Cryogenics

A broad term describing the development of technologies operating, or producing, low-temperatures is “cryogenics.” Many fascinating phenomena occur when materials are cooled to temperatures not found in the earth environment. Instruments that operate in space are one example of devices that operate in a cryogenic regime. A central engineering theme in cryogenic work is heat transfer and often requires detailed designs and high vacuums to either augment or reduce heat fluxes. In the lab, closed-cycle cryocoolers are used with vacuum chambers to create space-like environments (10^-7 torr vacuum, and temperature ~ 3 K). Currently magnetic refrigeration, superconducting magnets, cryogenic actuators, and cryofuel storage tanks are some of the cryogenic technologies being used or studied.