The Right Cryostat for Your Needs

Cryostat design and manufacture are critical; cryostats must perform exactly as intended. IRLabs has worked with clients around the world to deliver cryogenic systems that meet the most exacting specifications. From designing and manufacturing the complicated dewar at the heart of the Large Binocular Telescope at Mt. Graham in Arizona to retrofitting a cryo-free refrigerator for NASA’s Mid-IR Spectrometer and Imager (MIRSI), IRLabs has a proven track record.

IRLabs has more than 50 years of proven expertise in supplying flexible, cost-effective standard and semi-custom cryostats for successful operation in a wide variety of low-temperature applications including IR detection and imaging, focal point array testing, low-temperature physics experiments, and OEM integration.

Find the Cryostat for Your Temperature Range

Why Choose Cryostats from IRLabs?

Wide selection: Temperature ranges extend from mK to room temperature and available in several standard sizes
Cryo-free options: Liquid cryogen dewars and mechanically cooled cryogen-free refrigerator options
Reduce costs: Standard cryostat package can be used as a baseline
Minimize cryogenic consumption and maximize thermal conductivity: Efficient cryogen use and closed cycle cryostat options
Reliability: Vibration isolation enables the most vibration sensitive applications
Flexibility: Standard cryostats can be used for more than one specific application or test
Ease of operation: Time-tested ergonomic designs
Customizable: Custom case designs and workspaces are also available
Successful operation: 50 years of cryostat design and manufacturing experience for successful operation

Selecting Liquid Cryogenic or Cryogen-Free Cooling

Cryostats are available as pour-filled liquid cryogen dewars or cryogen-free refrigerators. In general terms, dewars are passive cooling devices that contain vacuum-insulated reservoirs of LN₂, LHe, or LN₂ plus LHe that provide all cooling power needed in these open cycle systems. Refrigerators use mechanically refrigerated cold heads embedded in a vacuum case in a closed cycle system. Both dewar and refrigerator systems are readily adapted to many different applications.

Liquid Cryogenic Dewars

Liquid cryogen dewars are compact with no moving parts, easy to use, and have a lower initial cost. Recommended for simple, reliable operation:

Use LN2 and LHe
Simple, compact cooling solution
Lower cost of equipment
No mechanical noise and vibration
No bulky compressor and hoses
High reliability

Cryogen-Free Refrigerators

Refrigerated systems are larger, more complex, and have a higher initial cost but eliminate the expense of refilling cryogens. Recommended for cost-effective, continuous unattended cold operation:

Uses mechanical refrigeration
No expensive LHe
Continuous operation with no refilling required
Reliable; no unexpected warmups
Acceptably low vibration in most cases

Customize to Meet Your Unique Specifications

IRLabs offers a variety of standard optical components for integration on your system.

Customized Cryostats

Optical, Mechanical and Cryo/Vacuum Accessories