Performance of the SCUBA-2 dry dilution refrigerator: 4 years of operation at the JCMT

Dan Bintley; John T. Kuroda; Erik G. Starman; Simon Craig; Wayne S. Holland

doi:10.1117/12.926540

24 September 2012 Performance of the SCUBA-2 dry dilution refrigerator: 4 years of operation at the JCMT

Dan Bintley, John T. Kuroda, Erik G. Starman, Simon Craig, Wayne S. Holland

Proceedings Volume 8452, Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy VI; 84523C (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926540
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

Cryogen free or ‘dry’ dilution refrigerators that integrate a cryocooler such as a two stage pulse tube to replace the conventional liquid helium bath and 1K pot, have become a practical alternative for cooling astronomical detectors to mK temperatures and offer many advantages. SCUBA-2, the new submillimetre camera in operation at the JCMT, on the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, was one of the first instruments to use such a fridge design. The dry dilution fridge for SCUBA-2 has now been in service for almost 4 years during commissioning at JCMT. In the most recent astronomical commissioning phase, the dilution fridge was in continuous operation for 10 months with no loss of base temperature or cooling power, cooling the SCUBA-2 detector arrays to below 100mK while maintaining a further 100Kg of enclosure, shields and SQUID amplifiers at 1K. In this paper we review some of the lessons from operating a dry dilution fridge at the JCMT and the necessary changes that have been incorporated. We present the performance of the fridge and discus its role in ensuring the success of SCUBA-2.

Citation Download Citation

Dan Bintley, John T. Kuroda, Erik G. Starman, Simon Craig, and Wayne S. Holland "Performance of the SCUBA-2 dry dilution refrigerator: 4 years of operation at the JCMT", Proc. SPIE 8452, Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy VI, 84523C (24 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926540

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