A cryogenic apparatus (10) comprises: an enclosure (12); a thermo-mechanical cooler (22) and a sample tube (20) that both project into the enclosure (12), where the sample tube (20) has a closed end; a pump (92) with a pump inlet and a pump outlet, and a duct to supply helium gas from the pump outlet to the thermo-mechanical cooler (22) to produce cold helium. The sample tube (20) has a first inlet (74) to allow a fluid into the sample tube (20), and a second inlet (83) to supply fluid to a thermal element (42) in thermal contact with the sample tube (20), and also has a first outlet (26) to withdraw fluid from within the sample tube (20), and a second outlet (28) to withdraw fluid from the thermal element (42). The apparatus also comprises a first duct including a first valve (80) to supply the cold helium to the first inlet (74) and a second duct including a second valve (82) to supply the cold helium to the second inlet (83); and either or both of the first outlet (26) and the second outlet (28) may be connected to the inlet of the pump (92). This enables a specimen to be cooled either in a static mode, relying on natural convection, or in a dynamic mode, with a forced gas flow, or using both modes at once. These different options enable an operator to achieve different cooling rates.

A cryogenic cooling system is provided comprising a first stage 6, a second stage 7, and a third stage 8, wherein the second stage 7 is arranged between the first stage 6 and the third stage 8. A first dilution unit 12 is provided comprising a first still 11 and a first mixing chamber 13, wherein the first still 11 is thermally coupled to the first stage 6 and the first mixing chamber 13 is thermally coupled to the third stage 8. A second dilution unit 32 is further provided comprising a second still 31 and a second mixing chamber 33, wherein the second still 31 is thermally coupled to the first stage 6 and the second mixing chamber 33 is thermally coupled to the second stage 7.

A cryogenic cooling system is provided comprising a first stage 6, a second stage 7, and a third stage 8, wherein the second stage 7 is arranged between the first stage 6 and the third stage 8. A first dilution unit 12 is provided comprising a first still 11 and a first mixing chamber 13, wherein the first still 11 is thermally coupled to the first stage 6 and the first mixing chamber 13 is thermally coupled to the third stage 8. A second dilution unit 32 is further provided comprising a second still 31 and a second mixing chamber 33, wherein the second still 31 is thermally coupled to the first stage 6 and the second mixing chamber 33 is thermally coupled to the second stage 7.

A cryogenic refrigeration system is provided having particular application in cooling a Magnetic Resonance Imaging system. The cryogenic refrigeration system comprises a conduit arranged as a cooling circuit through which a coolant fluid is pumped, the conduit being in thermal communication with a least one cooled stage for cooling the coolant fluid to a first temperature, and wherein the conduit comprises a cryotrap in communication with the coolant fluid, the cryotrap being operable to remove contaminants from the coolant fluid by cryogenic pumping. The conduit further comprises a flow impedance for cooling the coolant fluid to a second temperature lower than the first temperature, and a hydrogen filter upstream of the flow impedance and in communication with the coolant fluid, the hydrogen filter being cooled to a temperature below the freezing point of hydrogen in the coolant fluid and operable to remove contaminant hydrogen from the coolant fluid.

A cryogenic refrigeration system is provided having particular application in cooling a Magnetic Resonance Imaging system. The cryogenic refrigeration system comprises a conduit arranged as a cooling circuit through which a coolant fluid is pumped, the conduit being in thermal communication with a least one cooled stage for cooling the coolant fluid to a first temperature, and wherein the conduit comprises a cryotrap in communication with the coolant fluid, the cryotrap being operable to remove contaminants from the coolant fluid by cryogenic pumping. The conduit further comprises a flow impedance for cooling the coolant fluid to a second temperature lower than the first temperature, and a hydrogen filter upstream of the flow impedance and in communication with the coolant fluid, the hydrogen filter being cooled to a temperature below the freezing point of hydrogen in the coolant fluid and operable to remove contaminant hydrogen from the coolant fluid.

Devices, systems, methods, and computer-implemented methods to facilitate employing thermalizing materials in an enclosure for quantum computing devices are provided. According to an embodiment, a system can comprise a quantum computing device and an enclosure having the quantum computing device disposed within the enclosure. The system can further comprise a thermalizing material disposed within the enclosure, with the thermalizing material being adapted to thermally link a cryogenic device to the quantum computing device.

Devices, systems, methods, and computer-implemented methods to facilitate employing thermalizing materials in an enclosure for quantum computing devices are provided. According to an embodiment, a system can comprise a quantum computing device and an enclosure having the quantum computing device disposed within the enclosure. The system can further comprise a thermalizing material disposed within the enclosure, with the thermalizing material being adapted to thermally link a cryogenic device to the quantum computing device.

A heat exchanger includes: a low temperature side channel through which low temperature liquid helium flows; a high temperature side channel through which high temperature liquid helium flows; and a thermal conduction unit that conducts heat from the high temperature side channel to the low temperature side channel. The thermal conduction unit has a partition member that separates the high temperature side channel and the low temperature side channel from each other and a thermal resistance reduction unit that reduces the thermal resistance between the partition member and the liquid helium. The thermal resistance reduction unit has a porous body having nano-size pores and fine metal particles having higher thermal conductivity than that of the porous body.

A heat exchanger includes: a low temperature side channel through which low temperature liquid helium flows; a high temperature side channel through which high temperature liquid helium flows; and a thermal conduction unit that conducts heat from the high temperature side channel to the low temperature side channel. The thermal conduction unit has a partition member that separates the high temperature side channel and the low temperature side channel from each other and a thermal resistance reduction unit that reduces the thermal resistance between the partition member and the liquid helium. The thermal resistance reduction unit has a porous body having nano-size pores and fine metal particles having higher thermal conductivity than that of the porous body.

A refrigerator includes a main body that has a storage chamber and a drying chamber; a thermoelectric module that includes a heat absorber and a heat dissipater; a cooling fan that circulates air in the storage chamber to the heat absorber and the storage chamber; a heat-dissipating fan that blows air to the heat dissipater; an air guide that has a passage for guiding air heated by the heat dissipater to the drying chamber; a heater that is disposed in the passage; and a damper that controls a flow of air in the passage between the heat-dissipating fan and the heater. Heat of the heat dissipater transfers to the drying chamber through the passage of the air guide and the damper, thereby being able to dry an object to be dried.