HIGH OUTPUT THERMOCOUPLES FOR CRYOGENIC TEMPERATURES

THERMOCOUPLES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY USED FOR CRYOGENIC TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENTS DUE TO LACK OF CALIBRATION DATA AND POOR ACCURACY OF COMMON THERMOCOUPLE JUNCTION MATERIALS AT LOW TEMPERATURES. IN THIS PROJECT WE WILL DEVELOP THERMOCOUPLES WITH HIGH OUTPUT SENSITIVITY FOR IMPROVED ACCURACY AT CRYOGENIC TEMPERATURES. MEASUREMENT REQUIREMENTS WILL BE DETERMINED FOR AIR FORCE FACILITIES WHICH ARE USED TO EXPOSE MATERIALS AND DEVICES TO INTENSE NUCLEAR AND OTHER ENERGETIC RADIATION SOURCES IN ORDER TO EVALUATE SURVIVABILITY IN DEFENSE SCENARIOS. MULTIPLE JUNCTION THERMOCOUPLES WILL BE FABRICATED AND TESTED TO DEMONSTRATE HIGH OUTPUT AND WIDE TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT RANGE WITH GOOD ACCURACY AND RESOLUTION. FABRICATION METHODS FOR THIN-FILM THERMOCOUPLES WILL BE EVALUATED IN ORDER TO SELECT APPROACHES THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE REQUIRED TEMPERATURE DATA FROM TESTS DURING PHASE II IN AIR FORCE CRYOGENIC ENVIRONMENT FACILITIES.