A comprehensive overview of the critical factors to consider when selecting a cryostat
These Lake Shore closed-cycle refrigerator cryostats cool the sample in exchange gas. Helium circulates through an independent cooling loop to cool samples to temperatures as low as 1.5 K, allowing nearly unlimited operation. The sample space is separate from the cooling loop, minimizing the risk of blockages. With a wide range of electrical feedthrough and window options, they are a versatile choice for making cryogenic measurements without using liquid helium.
Every cryostat comes with a Lake Shore temperature controller and calibrated sensor
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A cryostat is a device designed to maintain samples or instruments at cryogenic temperatures—often just a few degrees above absolute zero. In scientific research, cryostats create a stable, ultra-cold environment that minimizes thermal noise, enabling experiments in fields such as condensed matter physics, quantum computing, and materials science. By cooling samples to temperatures where quantum effects and superconductivity emerge, cryostats allow researchers to study phenomena that are impossible at room temperature.
A cryostat is the insulated chamber or system that holds and stabilizes the sample at cryogenic temperatures. A cryocooler, on the other hand, is the refrigeration unit that generates those low temperatures without using liquid cryogens. In short, the cryocooler provides the cooling power, while the cryostat provides the controlled environment for experiments. Many modern cryostats incorporate closed-cycle cryocoolers, eliminating the need for liquid helium or nitrogen and thereby reducing operating costs and maintenance.
A closed-cycle cryostat uses a mechanical refrigeration system—typically based on the Gifford-McMahon or pulse-tube cycle—to cool a sample without consuming cryogenic liquids. Helium gas is compressed, precooled, and expanded in a sealed loop, removing heat from the cold stage. The system comprises a compressor to pressurize helium gas, a cold head (expander) that executes the thermodynamic cycle to produce cooling, and a vacuum chamber and radiation shields that minimize heat transfer from the environment.
Because the helium is continuously recycled, the cryostat can operate indefinitely with only electrical power and occasional maintenance, making it ideal for long-duration experiments.
Every cryostat comes with a Lake Shore temperature controller and calibrated sensor