Parts of a Dilution Refrigerator
Point your mouse at the different parts of the dilution refrigerator diagram to see a brief description of each section:
Circulation Pumps
The mixture is circulated through the dilution refrigerator by the circulation pumps.
The Helium-4 Pot (1 K)
The incoming mixture is recondensed by passing it through a bath of cold helium-4.
The Still (0.5 K)
Helium-3 is removed from the refrigerator by pumping on the still.
Tube Heat Exchanger
Inside the concentric tube heat exchanger the cold liquid leaving the cryostat cools the incoming liquid.
Box Heat Exchangers
The warm incoming liquid is further cooled by the cold liquid leaving the mixing chamber.
The Mixing Chamber (5 mK)
In the Mixing Chamber helium-3 atoms cross the concentrated/dilute phase boundary, absorbing heat from their surroundings as they do so.
Click 'Next' to learn about the final cooling technique we use in the Ultra Low Temperature laboratory.
