The Cryogenics Group at Goddard Space Flight Center is developing an Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator (ADR) to provide continuous cooling at 50 millikelvin. The aspects of the ADR that our team studied were the component thermal efficiencies and properties of paramagnetic salts. We fabricated a new paramagnetic salt pill, studied a new salt pill candidate, and measured the thermal efficiency of the current 3-stage ADR system. The thermal efficiency of the combined first and second stage ADR system was estimated to be 65% of the ideal efficiency. A 66-g chromium potassium alum salt pill was fabricated, and elpasolite, the new salt pill candidate, was found to have a cooling capacity greater than that of the present third stage salt pill.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Kotredes, Lewis Thomas
• House, Sarah Kathleen

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 01B010M

Advisor

• Iannacchione, Germano S.
• Looft, Fred J.
• Jasperson, Stephen N.

Year

• 2001

Center

• Goddard Space Flight Center Project Center - MQP

Sponsor

• NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

Date created

• 2001-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Physics

Rights statement

• In Copyright