Electrical Transport Measurements with OptiCool: Turnkey Integration of Lake Shore Measurement Systems
Electrical transport measurements at cryogenic temperatures and high magnetic fields—with optional optical excitation—are essential tools in condensed matter and materials physics. The integration of Lake Shore measurement systems with the Quantum Design OptiCool® now provides a largely preconfigured turnkey solution for these experiments.
OptiCool provides precise control of temperature and magnetic field, along with extensive optical access, while instruments such as the Lake Shore M81 and MeasureReady® M91 FastHall™ provide high-precision electrical sourcing and measurement capabilities. Electrical connections are made using the standard OptiCool sample wiring (X300), together with Fischer-to-DB-25 cables and compatible feedthrough boxes. This configuration eliminates much of the custom wiring that would otherwise be required.
Depending on the application, the integrated system supports resistance and current–voltage (I–V) measurements using the M81, as well as Hall effect, carrier mobility, and van der Pauw measurements using the M91 FastHall. Samples can be mounted on the Wired Sample Mount, which ensures reproducible electrical contact and efficient thermal coupling.
Through software integration with MultiVu and MeasureLINK®, OptiCool’s temperature and magnetic field can be controlled directly from the measurement software. This enables a streamlined and consistent measurement workflow without the need for additional interfaces or synchronization solutions.
The primary innovation is not any single measurement capability, but rather the seamless integration of the two platforms. Together, OptiCool and the Lake Shore measurement systems form a complete, ready-to-use solution for electrical transport experiments—from conventional Hall effect measurements to investigations of photoinduced transport properties under precisely controlled conditions.
