Advanced Regenerator for Low Temperature Applications

"The proposed project will develop an advanced low temperature regenerator to enable efficient 4K cooling for many military, scientific, and commercial needs not adequately met by current technology cryocoolers. Our unique approach meets the low vibrationand stable temperature requirements of IR detectors and other applications, including space and airborne detectors, SC electronics and communications, medical magnetometry, and radio-astronomy. Our regenerator technology mitigates the problems associatedwith low frequency PT and GM regenerative coolers by enabling efficient higher frequency operation. The high frequency smoothes out the temperature fluctuations and vibration excursions inherent in the low frequency coolers while reducing their powerrequirements and operational costs. 4K regenerative coolers operate at low frequency because of void volume losses in their high porosity regenerators. Our new approach decreases porosity, allowing a 4K PTC to operate at 20 Hz instead of 1 Hz, resultingin a reduction in cold end displacement, improved temperature regulation, higher cooling efficiency, higher reliability, lower cost, and reduced cryocooler maintenance . IR imaging and spectroscopy, Ground-based IR Astronomy, Cryopumps, Magnetoencephalography, Magnetocardiography, Radioastronomy, Low Temperature Superconducting Electronics and Communication."