Closed-Cycle Optical Cryostat
OptiCool® Cryogen-Free Optical Cryostat Family
OptiCool® is a family of cryogen-free, closed-cycle optical cryostat systems designed for low-temperature optical and magneto-optical measurements. Systems are available in standard 7 tesla magnet, vector magnet, and magnet-free configurations to support a wide range of experimental requirements.
These cryostat systems provide fully automated cooldown and precise temperature control from 350 K to 1.7 K, along with stable, low-vibration performance required for sensitive optical measurements. The integrated magnet design of the 7 Tesla and Vector configurations places the sample at the center of the optical environment, enabling magneto-optical measurements with unobstructed, multi-directional optical access and precise magnetic field orientation relative to the sample.
With a large, configurable sample space and flexible optical access, OptiCool supports advanced experimental setups for spectroscopy, microscopy, and materials characterization under controlled temperature and magnetic field conditions. The magnet-free Flex configuration further expands experimental flexibility while providing a 4 K thermal bus for additional cooled components.
OptiCool's configurable sample pod architecture supports customized optical setups, including experiments extending beyond the primary instrument volume. Multiple side-window configurations, optional bottom optical access, and custom wiring configurations provide additional flexibility for advanced experimental designs.
Models
| OptiCool® 7 Tesla | OptiCool® Vector | OptiCool® Flex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnetic Field: | 7 T Split-Coil Conical Magnet | 4-1-1 T Vector Magnet (Z-X-Y) | None |
| Optical Access Ports: |
8 Ports:
|
5 Ports:
|
8 Ports:
|
| Sample Volume: | 84 × 89 mm | 84 × 89 mm | 75 × 200 mm |
| Temperature Range: | 1.7 K – 350 K | ||
| Low Vibration: | <10 nm peak-to-peak | ||
| Temperature and Magnet Control: | Automated | ||
| Cryogen: | Cryogen Free | ||
OptiCool® 7 Tesla
The standard OptiCool 7 Tesla optical cryostat features a ±7 tesla split-conical superconducting magnet with field perpendicular to the optical table and high field uniformity (±0.3% over a 3 cm diameter spherical volume). Seven side optical windows provide multi-directional optical access to a large experimental volume while maintaining uniform magnetic field conditions for magneto-optical measurements.
OptiCool® Vector
The OptiCool Vector magneto-optical cryostat provides magnetic fields up to ±4 T perpendicular to the optical table and ±1 T in the plane parallel to the table. Optical access along the X, Y, and Z directions enables both in-plane and out-of-plane transmission and reflection measurements, while vector magnet control allows precise alignment of the magnetic field relative to the sample and optical system.
OptiCool® Flex
The magnet-free OptiCool Flex optical cryostat maximizes experimental access with a large 75 mm × 200 mm workspace volume and open optical geometry for customized low-temperature experimental setups. A 4 K thermal transfer bus, ultra-low vibration performance, and multi-directional optical access support advanced spectroscopy, microscopy, and integrated optical measurements requiring additional cooled components.
OptiCool Platform Applications
- Color Center's (e.g., Diamond Nitrogen Vacancies)
- Quantum Optics
- 2D Materials (e.g., Transition Metal Dichalcogenides)
- Spintronics
- AFM / Microscopy
- MOKE / CryoMOKE
- Raman / FTIR Spectroscopy
- UV / VIS Reflectivity & Absorption
- Time Resolved Magnetic Spectroscopy
- Magneto-Excitons
- Anisotropic Magnetic Single Crystals
- Magnetic Thin Films
Testimonials
Sample Pod with Bragg-LT Diamond Anvil Cell
Sample Pod with Four Nanopositioner Stacks
Nanopositioner on Standard Pod
Nanopositioner on Large Volume Pod
Nanopositioner with Thermal Link
Rapid Thermal Stage mounted on Thermal Link plate
Wired Sample Mount attached to Thermal Link plate
Customizations
Sample Pods
The OptiCool's Sample Pod provides a place to build and customize your experiment on the bench. When you are ready to make a measurement, the Sample Pod easily plugs into the pre-wired temperature control column. Having multiple experiments arranged on multiple pods allows you to switch experimental hardware quickly. Sample Pods are available in both a standard configuration and a large-volume configuration depending on the experimental needs. Each type of pod can be further configured by changing the riser pieces (available in three lengths; included with the system) to adjust the height of the mounting plate.
- Standard Sample Pod – Allows for mounting plate positions at 56.4 mm, 32.8 mm and 12.4 mm below the magnet center.
- Large-Volume Sample Pod – Allows for mounting plate positions at 131.3 mm, 111.0 mm and 87.4 mm below the magnet center.
Wiring and Feedthroughs
Wiring and feedthrough options are available to get electrical and optical signals into and out of the OptiCool cryostat. Wiring options are permanently mounted in the cryostat, so are usually installed at the factory. The fiber feedthrough is easily installed or removed by the end user. Pick from the following options to meet your experimental needs:
- Standard Sample Wiring – Each sample wiring assembly contains eight twisted pairs for a total of 16 wires. Four 4-pin connectors are presented on the pod to make contact to your sample.
- 3-Axis Positioner Wiring – The positioner wiring assembly is designed to be compatible with attocube piezo positioner stacks. Each assembly has enough wires to run up to 3 different axes of motion with the RES position feedback. If position feedback is not required, the feedback wires can be repurposed to run an additional 3 axes of motion. Contact Quantum Design for more information.
- RF Coax Wiring – The RF coax wiring assembly contains four coaxial cables capable of carrying high frequency signals up to 20 GHz.
- Optical Fiber Feedthrough – Feed four or more optical fibers into the sample volume. Can also be used for other items such as gas tubes.
Sample Positioning
Many optical applications require precise positioning of the sample to the optical path for focusing or examination of an area of interest. The ability to scan the sample is also required for 2D imaging of sample properties. To meet these needs the OptiCool cryostat can be configured with a piezo-based nanopositioning stack to move your sample in situ. The nanopositioner option comes with all the adapters needed to mount the nanopositioners onto a pod, specialized cryostat wiring, cabling that can connect to the piezo controller, and a thermal link specifically designed for use in the OptiCool. The nanopositioner stack can be mounted on the standard pod or on the large-volume pod depending on experimental needs. Also available is a Rapid Thermal Stage that reduces the amount of time it takes to stabilize focus on your sample when ramping or changing temperature. Additionally, we offer a Wired Sample Mount that allows users to wire their samples to the 16 pads of a removable sample mount that comes equipped with a flex wiring cable that plugs easily into the sample pod.
Windows and Objectives
Optical experiments can require a variety of windows and microscope objectives. To address these needs Quantum Design offers window and objective configuration options, including a low working-distance top window option, vacuum objective mounting hardware, and a bottom access window. The low working-distance top window reduces the minimum working distance from 15 mm to about 3 mm between the top of the outer window and the underside of the inner shield window. The hardware allows you to directly mount a wide variety of objectives at close spacing using the included window clamp and standard off-the-shelf adaptor rings. This means you can make adjustments or swap out objectives while the sample remains cold. Quantum Design also offers a Zeiss 100x LD EC Epiplan-Neofluar, infinity-corrected objective mounted inside the cryostat. This objective offers a 0.75 NA and a working distance of 4 mm. A kit is also available to mount your own objectives in vacuum if desired. A bottom access window is available for the cryostat, allowing transmission measurements along the magnet axis, perpendicular to the surface of the optical table.
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