Micro cryogenic coolers for IR imaging

Ryan Lewis; Yunda Wang; Jill Cooper; Martin Muhong Lin; Victor M. Bright; Y. C. Lee; Peter E. Bradley; Ray Radebaugh; Marcia L. Huber

doi:10.1117/12.886578

20 May 2011 Micro cryogenic coolers for IR imaging

Ryan Lewis, Yunda Wang, Jill Cooper, Martin Muhong Lin, Victor M. Bright, Y. C. Lee, Peter E. Bradley, Ray Radebaugh, Marcia L. Huber

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8012, Infrared Technology and Applications XXXVII; 80122H (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.886578
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2011, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Joule-Thomson micro cryogenic coolers (MCCs) are a preferred approach for small and low power cryocoolers. With the same heat lift, MCC's power input can be only 1/10 of a thermoelectric cooler's input, and MCC's size can be only 1/10 of a Stirling cooler's size. With futuristic planar MCC and with high frequency MEMS compressors to be developed, its size can be reduced another order of magnitude. Such "invisible" cryocoolers may revolutionize future IR imaging systems. We will review our studies on the feasibility of MCC with an emphasis on: 1) high thermal isolation levels reaching 89,000 K/W; 2) custom-designed gas mixtures with refrigeration capabilities increased by 10X and pressure ratio reduced to only 4:1; 3) compressors with low pressure ratios; and 4) excellent scalability for further size reduction.

Citation Download Citation

Ryan Lewis, Yunda Wang, Jill Cooper, Martin Muhong Lin, Victor M. Bright, Y. C. Lee, Peter E. Bradley, Ray Radebaugh, and Marcia L. Huber "Micro cryogenic coolers for IR imaging", Proc. SPIE 8012, Infrared Technology and Applications XXXVII, 80122H (20 May 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.886578

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