Abstract
We describe the cryogenic system for SPIDER, a balloon-borne microwave polarimeter that will map 8% of the sky with degree-scale angular resolution. The system consists of a 1284 L liquid helium cryostat and a 16 L capillary-filled superfluid helium tank, which provide base operating temperatures of 4 K and 1.5 K, respectively. Closed-cycle 3He adsorption refrigerators supply sub-Kelvin cooling power to multiple focal planes, which are housed in monochromatic telescope inserts. The main helium tank is suspended inside the vacuum vessel with thermally insulating fiberglass flexures, and shielded from thermal radiation by a combination of two vapor cooled shields and multi-layer insulation. This system allows for an extremely low instrumental background and a hold time in excess of 25 days. The total mass of the cryogenic system, including cryogens, is approximately 1000 kg. This enables conventional long duration balloon flights. We will discuss the design, thermal analysis, and qualification of the cryogenic system.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Title of host publication | Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy V |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2010 |
Event | Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy V - San Diego, CA, United States Duration: Jun 29 2010 → Jul 2 2010 |
Publication series
Name | Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering |
---|---|
Volume | 7741 |
ISSN (Print) | 0277-786X |
Other
Other | Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy V |
---|---|
Country/Territory | United States |
City | San Diego, CA |
Period | 6/29/10 → 7/2/10 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Computer Science Applications
- Applied Mathematics
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Keywords
- CMB
- SPIDER
- adsorption
- ballooning
- cryogenics
- cryostat
- multi-layer insulation
- polarimetry
- refrigerator