Liquid Helium Research Articles

Low-Field, Low-Cost, Point-of-Care Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has recently experienced a renaissance that is largely attributable to the numerous technological advancements made in MRI, including optimized pulse sequences, parallel receive and compressed sensing, improved calibrations and reconstruction algorithms, and the adoption of machine learning for image postprocessing. This new attention on low-field MRI originates from a lack of accessibility to traditional MRI and the need for affordable imaging. Low-field MRI provides a viable option due to its lack of reliance on radio-frequency shielding rooms, expensive liquid helium, and cryogen quench pipes. Moreover, its relatively small size and weight allow for easy and affordable installation in most settings. Rather than replacing conventional MRI, low-field MRI will provide new opportunities for imaging both in developing and developed countries. This article discusses the history of low-field MRI, low-field MRI hardware and software, current devices on the market, advantages and disadvantages, and low-field MRI's global potential.

Nonlinear and Negative Effective Diffusivity of Interlayer Excitons in Moiré-Free Heterobilayers.

Interlayer exciton diffusion is studied in atomically reconstructed MoSe_{2}/WSe_{2} heterobilayers with suppressed disorder. Local atomic registry is confirmed by characteristic optical absorption, circularly polarized photoluminescence, and g-factor measurements. Using transient microscopy we observe propagation properties of interlayer excitons that are independent from trapping at moiré- or disorder-induced local potentials. Confirmed by characteristic temperature dependence for free particles, linear diffusion coefficients of interlayer excitons at liquid helium temperature and low excitation densities are almost 1000 times higher than in previous observations. We further show that exciton-exciton repulsion and annihilation contribute nearly equally to nonlinear propagation by disentangling the two processes in the experiment and simulations. Finally, we demonstrate effective shrinking of the light emission area over time across several hundreds of picoseconds at the transition from exciton- to the plasma-dominated regimes. Supported by microscopic calculations for band gap renormalization to identify the Mott threshold, this indicates transient crossing between rapidly expanding, short-lived electron-hole plasma and slower, long-lived exciton populations.

Numerical simulations of proppant transportation in cryogenic fluids: Implications on liquid helium and liquid nitrogen fracturing for subsurface hydrogen storage

The over dependence on fossil fuels for human energy requirements together with the resultant adverse environmental effects in the form of greenhouse gas discharges has redirected our attention towards renewable energy sources. Researchers have identified hydrogen, a non-carbonaceous energy source holding the capacity to substitute fossil fuels, as a viable fuel option that has the potential to be generated utilizing eco-friendly techniques. Studies have identified underground sites that are operational or have the potential to be used for hydrogen storage. Shale formations, characterized by their low permeability, offer promising opportunities for underground hydrogen storage. These formations require stimulation techniques to generate flow channels. Pumping frac-fluid into these formations at high pressure induces fractures in them and the engineered fractures are supported by the proppants injected along with the fluid. Propped fractures form a vital conduit in unconventional gas reservoirs, which are a potential medium for storage of hydrogen. Cryogenic fracturing is an innovative approach that aims to enhance and broaden the capabilities of conventional hydraulic fracturing processes. The transmission and settlement of proppants are influenced by certain critical aspects including their density, size and volume fraction and fluid velocity, which are investigated in this contribution. This study incorporates water and cryogenic fluids like liquid nitrogen (LN2) and liquid helium (LHe) as fracturing fluids. The primary objective of this effort is to analyze proppant transportation phenomenon and the key influential factors in LN2 and LHe. The proppant volume fraction contour, equilibrium dune level (EqDL) and dune height (EqDH) data are illustrated in this research for better understanding of proppant migration. It was observed that when the fracturing fluid is given a higher velocity, the proppant grains experience increased drag force, causing them to penetrate deeper into the fracture. The desired range of proppant volume fraction for improved grain transmission was determined as 0.45 to 0.50 and the critical proppant density that significantly affected the EqDL as 187.2839 lb/ft3.

Advances in dry low-temperature scanning probe microscopy system development

Since the beginning of the 21st century, Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) has played an increasingly important role in the fields of micro- and nanoscale surface characterization, physical property measurement, and micro/nano fabrication. To provide a more stable operating environment and higher energy resolution for SPM, researchers have developed Low-Temperature Scanning Probe Microscopy (LT-SPM) systems that operate under ultra-high vacuum and low temperature conditions. Currently, most LT-SPM systems achieve temperatures around 4.2 K by supplying liquid helium-4 (<sup>4</sup>He) to continuous flow cryostats or low-temperature Dewars. However, due to the low natural abundance of <sup>4</sup>He and its rising demand, the price of liquid helium has surged dramatically, severely impacting the normal operation of <sup>4</sup>He-based low temperature equipment. To address this issue, dry (cryogen-free) refrigeration technology has emerged as a promising alternative for next-generation low-temperature systems. In this context, the integration of dry refrigeration technology with SPM to construct DRY-LT-SPM systems has become a key research focus in the field of scanning probe instruments.<br>This paper mainly discusses several reported closed-cycle DRY -LT-SPM systems, focusing on aspects such as system design, refrigeration schemes, vibration reduction methods, and overall performance. Finally, the paper summarizes the current challenges and issues faced by DRY -LT-SPM systems and explores potential future developments in this field.

Design and development of a cryogenic J-T valve for a 2 K cryostat with a single cryocooler

Abstract A cryogenic Joule-Thomson (J-T) valve for a 2 K cryostat cooled with a G-M cryocooler has been developed to continuously supply superfluid helium. Saturated liquid helium flowing through the valve transitions to superfluid helium below 2 K because of the J-T effect. The heat leak, sealing performance and the J-T effect of the valve were tested experimentally and analyzed. To reduce heat leak in the 2 K range, two thermal anchors were installed in the first and second cooling stages, respectively, resulting in 89.93% reduction of useful work loss. A unique sealing structure was developed for the J-T valve and was tested at both room temperature and liquid nitrogen temperature, yielding leak rates of 3 × 10-9 Pa· m3/s and 3 × 10-4 Pa· m3/s, respectively. The corresponding valve needle and seat structure were designed based on the flow resistance equation. The J-T effect of the valve in 2 K cryostat was tested at various valve openings. The cryostat can operate at 1.64 K with no load and provide 0.143 W cooling power at 2 K.

Topological order and fractionalized excitations in quantum many-body systems

The Landau Fermi liquid theory and the Ginzburg-Landau phase transition theory stand as two pivotal cornerstones in traditional condensed matter physics, achieving significant success in addressing crucial physical phenomena such as BCS superconductors and liquid helium superfluids. However, marked by the discoveries of the quantum Hall effect and high-temperature superconductivity in the 1980s, it gradually became evident that for a broad class of novel quantum states, such as fractional quantum Hall states and quantum spin liquids, their properties transcend the Landau Fermi liquid theory and Ginzburg-Landau phase transition theory. Topological order and its related concepts of long-range many-body quantum entanglement and fractionalized excitation have become the key concepts to understand these exotic quantum states. Designing and identifying topologically ordered states of matter in quantum materials and quantum simulation systems, and probing and manipulating their fractionalized excitations, are important research directions in modern condensed matter physics. In recent years, great progress has been made in the quantum simulation and manipulation of topological order on highly controllable quantum simulation platforms, such as Rydberg atomic systems, superconducting quantum processors, and two-dimensional moiré superlattices. This article provides a brief overview of recent research advances and challenges in the study of topological order in traditional condensed matter systems and quantum simulation experimental platforms. It also provides prospects for the future developments of this field.

A Novel Application of High Thermal Conductivity Material on Superconducting RF Cavities: The Inner-wall Thermal Conducting Film (ITCF)

Superconducting Radiofrequency (SRF) technology has developed rapidly for the requirements of high-energy accelerators in fundamental physics research and nuclear industry applications. Thus, the SRF community endeavored to improve the performance from every aspect for niobium and thin-film cavities and made significant breakthroughs in the past decades. However, the positive feedback effect from the RF loss seriously limits the cavity’s maximum acceleration gradient and causes the high field’s unstable operation. Mitigating this effect requires increasing the cavity thermal conductivity to reduce the temperature at the heating point. Conventional technology conducts the RF-loss heat from the surface to the liquid helium outside the cavity while the inner cavity remains vacuum. This paper introduces a new strategy which coats an inner-wall thermal-conducting film (ITCF) in the cavity for the first time globally. The COMSOL simulation results show that ITCF absorbs heat from the RF surface and transmits the heat to the distance on the inner wall, generating a different heat transfer route, thereby reducing the heating-point temperature more efficiently.

Overall design of a 5 MW/10 MJ hybrid high-temperature superconducting energy storage magnets cooled by liquid hydrogen

The integration of superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) into the power grid can achieve the goal of storing energy, improving energy quality, improving energy utilization, and enhancing system stability. The early SMES used low-temperature superconducting magnets cooled by liquid helium immersion, and the complex low-temperature cooling system greatly limited the promotion and application of such devices. SMES based on high temperature superconductivity (HTS) materials can operate in the temperature range of 15–30 K, which simplifies the cooling system and reduces the cooling loss, and greatly improves the operating efficiency and stability of the cooling system. In this paper, the overall design of a 5 MW/10 MJ SMES based on state of the art HTS materials is achieved. The structural parameters of YBCO and MgB2 cables are introduced and the structural parameters of energy storage magnet are analyzed. And the cooling scheme for SMES is provided.

Quench analysis of a no-insulation REBCO magnet based on the ADI method considering the coupling effect of the cryostat

A no-insulation (NI) REBCO superconducting magnet is under development at Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, China. The magnet with the liquid helium cryostat system has a compact structure to reduce the space required for operation. During a quench, the fast-changing spatial magnetic field around the NI magnet may induce a strong eddy current in the conductive parts of the cryostat. The eddy current and its associated Lorentz force will generate mechanical stress on the cryostat, especially on the thermal shield (TS). The mechanical strength of the cryostat needs verification in the preliminary design. Furthermore, the degree to which the electromagnetic coupling between the cryostat and NI magnet might impact the quench behaviors of the NI magnet remains uncertain. In this paper, a multi-physics quench model is newly developed for the NI REBCO magnet, and the alternating direction implicit method is employed for the solver of the thermal model to improve computational efficiency. This simulation model can consider the electromagnetic coupling effect between the NI magnet and cryostat by constructing a partial element equivalent circuit. A quench analysis has been performed and we found that: (1) The cryostat can function as a secondary shorted circuit to the NI magnet and slow down the quench speed to a certain extent. (2) During the rather fast inductive quench phase, the cryostat will experience an attraction force towards the quench propagation frontier. (3) A quench propagation from one end of the magnet can cause a significant z-axis unbalanced force on the TS. (4) Cryostat materials with drastically changed electrical conductivity can significantly affect their mechanical responses during a quench. However, the eddy current density and maximum Von Mises stress on the TS are barely affected by the thickness of the TS and the contact resistance of the NI REBCO magnet.

Helium pool boiling critical heat flux under various magnetically controlled gravity levels

The characterization of Critical Heat Flux (CHF) under magnetic compensation of gravity in liquid helium (LHe) is particularly important for the design of the future very high magnetic field superconducting magnets. Through a series of experimental sessions, the critical heat flux in LHe pool boiling has been determined under various gravity conditions ranging from 0.03g to 2.2g using magnetic forces. It is the largest range of gravity variation, from reduced to hyper-gravity, ever studied in a single facility so far. The study was conducted in a very high magnetic field up to 30 T. The magnetic compensation of gravity does not allow for perfect resulting gravity homogeneity. Nevertheless, for the first time, the magnetic field configuration is considered in the experimental results analysis. The relative resulting gravity inclination with respect to the heat exchange surface is also taken into account. The experimental results are compared with the well-known CHF correlation in LHe pool-boiling and show a very good behavior agreement. For our experimental gravity level, the CHF is ranging from 3000 W/m2 to 12000 W/m2.

Diagnostic system of the facility for studying superconducting quadrupoles

For the HED@FAIR project, NRC “Kurchatov Institute” — IHEP creates four quadrupole magnets with a unique combination of a large internal diameter of the superconducting winding and a high magnetic field gradient in the magnet aperture. To evaluate these superconducting magnets in different operation modes (cooling, maintaining operating parameters, heating, and transitioning magnet to the normal state), a cryogenic facility equipped with a diagnostic system was created. The main measured parameters of the unit were temperature, pressure, and vacuum in the equipment and pipelines, levels of liquid helium and liquid nitrogen, level of the gas holder, and helium flow rate. The control devices were represented by valves with electric and valves. For processing incoming signals from sensors and generation of control actions, the equipment of the domestic company OVEN was used, particularly analog input modules MV110, discrete output modules MU110, and interface converters alternating current four and direct current power supplies. The critical part of the diagnostics system, namely, the control of cryogenic valves, was provided through analog output modules NI 9219 and input modules NI 9212 (feedback) of the CompactRIO chassis. The program part of the installation for the study of superconducting quadruples is a mnemonic diagram with interactive graphic elements, physically located on the computer (operator console), and available in the read mode via the remote desktop protocol to users outside the installation. The mnemonic scheme allows the manual control of the plant’s valves and the automatic regulation of some indicators, depending on the settings assigned by the operator. The dynamics of the processes can be monitored with graphs on the right side of the interface. These graphs are displayed on a separate display at the operator’s console, whereas they are displayed on a unified screen for remote users.

Cryogenic magnetocaloric effect of the CaErAlO4 compound

The magnetism and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of some rare-earth (RE)-based oxides have attracted special attention due to their interesting physical and chemical properties, such as easy fabrication and high chemical stability. In this paper, the CaErAlO4 polycrystal compound synthesized by the high-temperature solid-state method manifests the considerable second-order reversible MCE near the temperature of liquid helium. This compound crystallizes in the perovskite-like K2NiF4-type structure with the space group of I4/mmm. The negative paramagnetic Curie temperature suggests that antiferromagnetism is dominant in the material and the moderate magnetization is mainly contributed by the ferromagnetic interaction in the sample. The measured isothermal magnetic entropy changes (∆SM) at 3 K are 14.3 and 22.9 J/kg K under 0–20 and 0–50 kOe field changes, respectively. They are greater than those of most RE-based oxides. Our results indicate that the CaErAlO4 compound is a promising candidate for cryogenic magnetic refrigeration.

Development of the sorption-integrated adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR) without active heat switches

This study reports on the test results of a proof of concept sorption-integrated adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR) for sub-Kelvin cooling. The configuration of the cooler is primarily simplified by eliminating heat switches which require active control. The whole refrigerator apparatus is composed of the high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet to magnetize the single crystal Gadolinium Gallium Garnet (GGG), and the 4He sorption cooler. Both the sorption cooler and the magnet are cooled by a 4 K two-stage Gifford-McMahon (G–M) cooler. The sorption cooler consists of a sorption pump filled with activated carbon of 13.9 g and a gravitiy-assisted-4He thermosiphon with volume of 5.0 cm3. The pressure inside the thermosiphon is controlled by changing the adsorption capacity of the sorption pump. The performance of the developed cooler is preliminarily evaluated by a single-shot test. The sorption cooler precools the 3 T-magnetized GGG from 4.40 K to 1.94 K by evaporating the liquid helium contained in the thermosiphon. When helium inside the thermosiphon is evacuated by the sorption pump, the magnetized GGG is thermally disconnected from the 4 K heat sink. Subsequently, the GGG is adiabatically demagnetized by discharging the HTS magnet and reaches temperature of 0.55 K. However, after demagnetization, the gas helium inside the cooling system is condensed by the GGG, consequently reducing its cooling capacity. Detailed experimental results are presented and discussed in the remainder of the paper.

High-Resolution Spectroscopy of the ErCrO<sub>3</sub> Crystal: A New Phase Transition?

Infrared absorption spectra of the ErCrO3crystal in the region off−ftransitions in the Er3+ion are recorded for the first time. An analysis of high-resolution temperature-dependent spectra reveals a step atT′=47K on the temperature dependences of the characteristics of spectral lines, in addition to the features at temperatures of magnetic orderingTN= 133 K and spin-reorientation transitionTSR=9.3K. This feature can be associated with either a previously unknown phase transition or with local changes in the crystal structure. The shape of the lines at liquid helium temperatures indicates the presence of additional positions for Er3+ions in the ErCrO3crystal. Presumably, these are positions near uncontrolled impurities that enter the crystal during its growth by the solution–melt method and form regions with a distorted structure responsible for the occurrence of polarization.

Development and testing of a three-period, subsize 2G AIMI MgB2 planar undulator

Compared to Nb3Sn- and NbTi-wound superconducting undulators (SCUs), MgB2-wound SCUs are of interest for future electron synchrotron beam light sources owing to their higher temperature operating margin and associated stability. In this study, a three-period undulator consisting of twelve racetrack coils wound with 2nd generation (2 G) multifilamentary advanced-internal-magnesium-infiltration MgB2 strands were fabricated and tested in liquid and gaseous helium (He) over a temperature range of 4.2 K–20 K. The coil winding cross sections (in each coil) were 5 mm wide and 4.8 mm thick. At 4.2 K, a critical current (I c) of 325.7 Amps produced a maximum undulator bore field of 1.19 T. It should be noted that the short, 3-period nature of the coil led to an asymmetry in the field profile (the maximum positive field was 1.19 T, the maximum negative was −0.25 T), suggesting a peak field of 0.72 T in the absence of end effects. Finite element modeling (FEM) results of simulations for a one meter long undulator of otherwise identical design gave 0.85 T (larger because of higher currents enabled by the lower field). But in any case, the I c value coil reached is 94% of that of the short sample (dictated by the 1.19 T positive field for the coil as tested). FEM was performed to study the magnetic field profile, which was validated experimentally. The magnetic field was measured using a Hall probe which was translated along the beam axis during measurement to explore the spatial field variation along the beam travel direction. The spatially alternating field was asymmetric, and the maximum field was more prominent in the positive direction than in the negative direction, the difference being due to broken symmetry, that is, short coil end effects. In this work, we show useful fields are possible for MgB2 undulators; the use of such conductors can allow a larger thermal margin and enable conduction-cooled operation.

Freeze range of a condensing gas propagating in a liquid helium-cooled tube

Understanding air propagation and condensation following a catastrophic vacuum break in particle accelerator beamlines cooled by liquid helium is crucial for maintaining the operational safety of these facilities. Previous experimental investigations on nitrogen gas propagation in both normal liquid helium (He I) and superfluid helium (He II) cooled copper tubes unveiled a nearly exponential deceleration of the gas propagation. A comprehensive theoretical model incorporating gas dynamics, heat transfer, and condensation mechanisms has been developed, which effectively reproduces various key experimental observations. An intriguing phenomenon uncovered in our model simulation is that the gas propagation appears to nearly stop beyond a certain distance from the location where condensation starts. We refer to this distance as the freeze range. In this paper, we present our systematic study of the freeze range at various inlet mass fluxes and tube diameters. We show that the results can be well described by a simple correlation. The underlying physical mechanism that supports this useful correlation is explained. Knowing the freeze range may allow accelerator engineers to develop protocols for controlling frost-layer contamination in the beamline tubes, which is of great practical importance.

System and approach to detecting of gastric slow wave and environmental noise suppression based on optically pumped magnetometer

Gastric slow waves (SWs) are commonly used for the quantitative assessment of gastric functional disorders. Compared with surface electrogastrography, using of magnetic signals to record SWs can achieve higher-quality signal recording. In this study, we discovered that optically pumped magnetometers (OPM) based on the spin exchange relaxation-free method have comparable weak magnetic detection capabilities to superconducting quantum interference devices but without liquid helium cooling. However, owing to the inevitable interference of low-frequency environmental drift, the characteristic features of SW are obscured, greatly increasing the difficulty in detecting gastric magnetic signals. Therefore, in this study, we constructed an OPM Magnetogastrography (OPM-MGG). We proposed an adaptive filtering architecture combined with environmental drift suppression and a non-stationary signal decomposition method for extracting SW signals. Through controlled human experiments, the results demonstrated that our testing system successfully extracted SW signals in the frequency range of 2–4 cycles per minute. The extracted SW signals exhibited consistent power and time–frequency characteristics with the reported results. This study validates the feasibility of (1) using the OPM-MGG system for capturing SW signals and (2) the proposed processing strategies for identifying ultralow-frequency SW signals. In conclusion, the OPM-MGG system and the signal extraction strategies developed in this study have the potential to provide a wearable technology for bioweak magnetic field measurements, offering new opportunities for both research and clinical applications.

An anti-maser for mode cooling of a microwave cavity

The maser, a microwave (MW) analog of the laser, is a well-established method for generating and amplifying coherent MW irradiation with ultralow noise. This is usually accomplished by creating a state of population inversion between two energy levels separated by MW frequency. Thermodynamically, such a state corresponds to a small but negative temperature. The reverse condition, where only the lower energy level is highly populated, corresponds to a very low positive temperature. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate how to generate such a state in condensed matter at moderate cryogenic temperatures. This state is then used to efficiently remove microwave photons from a cavity, continuously cooling it, well below its ambient temperature. Such an “anti-maser” device could be extremely beneficial for applications that would normally require cooling to millikelvin temperatures to eliminate any MW photons. For instance, superconducting MW quantum circuits (such as qubits and amplifiers) could, with the use of this device, operate efficiently at liquid helium temperatures.

Sub-nanosecond coherent optical manipulation of a single aromatic molecule at cryogenic temperature

Single molecules trapped in the solid state at liquid helium temperatures are promising quantum emitters for the development of quantum technologies owing to their remarkable photostability and their lifetime-limited optical coherence time of the order of 10 ns. The coherent preparation of their electronic state requires resonant excitation with a Rabi period much shorter than their optical coherence time. Sculpting the optical excitation with sharp edges and a high on–off intensity ratio (∼3 × 105) from a single-frequency laser beam, we demonstrate sub-nanosecond drive of a single dibenzanthanthrene molecule embedded in a naphthalene matrix at 3.2 K, over more than 17 Rabi periods. With pulses tailored for a half-Rabi period, the electronic excited state is prepared with fidelity as high as 0.97. Using single-molecule Ramsey spectroscopy, we prove up to 5 K that the optical coherence lifetime remains at its fundamental upper limit set by twice the excited-state lifetime, making single molecules suitable for quantum bit manipulations under standard cryogen-free cooling technologies.

Paul Harry Roberts. 13 September 1929—17 November 2022

Paul Roberts was a physicist and applied mathematician. He made important and often pioneering contributions in diverse research areas, but mainly with a fluid dynamic theme, which include rotating fluids, geophysical and astrophysical flows and superfluids. The cornerstone was magnetohydrodynamics with particular application to the geodynamo. His most notable achievement was the first three-dimensional self-consistent numerical geodynamo model, which built on the equations he had derived previously governing the Earth's core dynamics. His considerations included the role of thermal and compositional convection, and the inner core boundary layer (a mixed phase region). In addition to his remarkable illustration of magnetic field reversals, he applied his model to core–mantle coupling and variations in the length of the day. Paul investigated superfluid liquid helium on two fronts. He had a lifelong interest in Bose–Einstein condensates on the microscale governed by the nonlinear Schrodinger equation. His early work on the robust derivation of the mean-field Hall–Vinen–Bekharevic–Khalatnikov equations was far ahead of its time. Their importance and relevance was not appreciated until much later.