Cryogenic

Special Sensors for Cryogenic Temperatures

Many of the more commonly used temperature sensors are also used for work at cryogenic temperatures, e.g. most thermocouples, platinum RTDs, silicon diodes and special thermistors.

However, in the very low reaches of the temperature scales, there are some unique measurements made.

Not only are they all very cold, but there are situations when the temperature sensor is immersed in a strong magnetic field and/or a radio-frequency field.

A big step in cryogenic thermometry improvements was produced in 2003. Based on novel doping technologies for Silicon (Si) and Germanium (Ge) semiconductor thermistors, AdSem, Inc. (Palo Alto, CA) developed both unique ultra-low temperature Ge thermistors with operating temperature range down to 0.9 mK and Si and Ge thermistors with very wide operating temperature ranges of: 700K – 1K, 300K – 1K, 300K – 20 mK.

This gives rise to a need not only for sensors that can measure at very, very low temperatures, but also sensors that are not affected by the presence of a magnetic field or a radio-frequency electromagnetic field superimposed on a magnetic field.

Excellent reviews of the scientific literaure on thermometry and sensors in the region from 160 K to 0.3 K (about -113°C to -272.85°C) are covered in great detail in three review papers by L.G. Rubin in the journal “Cryogenics” in 1970, 1982 and 1997.

The references are detailed on the References page.

In addition, a special issue of the journal “Metrologia” in 1996 included significant articles on cryogenic thermometry as did the various volumes of the International Temperature Symposia, already listed.

The LakeShore Cryotronics, Inc. and Scientific Instruments,Inc. web sites include lists of the major sensor types arrayed in a table along with the key features and use conditions .

Below the table on the Lakeshore site is a brief summary of all the types listed there along with a description of key properties.

Some of the sensors covered are:

• Silicon Diodes
• Platinum RTDs
• Gallium Aluminum Arsenide Diodes
• Germanium RTDs
• Ruthenium Oxide RTDs
• Gallium Arsenide Diodes
• Rhodium-Iron RTDs
• Thermocouples
• Capacitance Sensors
• Chromel®/Gold Thermocouples
• Proprietary RTDs

CHROMEL ® is a registered trademark of Hoskins Manufacturing Company

Some of these temperature sensors are different than the types listed in the relevant pages as common industrial and scientific sensors.

These are special versions, tailored for use in cryogenic applications. As a rule they are significantly more expensive than “regular” temperature sensors of similar type.

Some uses of Cryogenics

• Liquified gases, generation, storage and handling
• Physics research
• Hall Effect/Magnet Studies
• Materials and metallurgical research
• Thermal Gravimetric Analysis
• Radio Astronomy
• Ceramics research
• Carbon research
• Fuels research
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
• Cooling of special optical, x-ray and electron detectors
• Flash freezing of food products
• Vacuum degasing, processing, and testing
• Low temperature research
• Semiconductor laser development
• Superconductor research & development
• Tritium liquification
• Nuclear physics detectors

Thanks for visiting.

Click on the link below to learn about some products from cryogenic temperature sensor vendors.

CRYOGENIC SENSOR VENDORS

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