4 K cryocoolers — sample in vacuum systems (SHI-4 Series)

Lake Shore SHI-4 series cryostats are among the most versatile systems available for laboratory sample cooling. They are equipped with interchangeable optics and include provisions for a wide variety of electrical connectors. Tapped holes on the vacuum shroud and a sturdy mounting flange provide for convenient mounting in any orientation.

Standard configurations

SHI-4-2 0.2 W 4 K optical cryocooler

SHI-4-5 0.5 W 4 K optical cryocooler

SHI-4 1 W optical 4 K cryocooler

SHI-4-15 1.5 W optical 4 K cryocooler

SHI-4T-1 non-optical 4 K cryocooler with optional mounting stand

SHI-4T with optional 800 K high-temperature stage

SHI-4ST-1 sub-compact, non-optical 4 K cryocooler

SHI-4XG-5 low-vibration interface 4 K cryocooler

SHI-4T-4 non-optical 4 K cryocooler

These cryostats are designed for measurements to 325 K, and optional configurations permit operation to 500 K or 800 K (with special thermometry).

Optimized for experiments requiring optical access to the sample, these systems include the following components:

Optical vacuum shroud and radiation shield
Four o-ring sealed quartz windows
Gold-plated OFHC copper sample holder
10-pin electrical feedthrough, with three spare electrical access ports
Evacuation valve and safety pressure relief valve
Silicon diode thermometer and control heater
Easily removable window block with an o-ring seal located just above the windows (SHI-4-2 and SHI-4-5 systems only

Available options:

Additional electrical feedthroughs (BNC, SMA, multipin, and others)
Rotatable vacuum shroud
Rotation and positioning stages
Matrix isolation configuration
Fifth window port
Radiation shield windows
Specially modified window block with a larger window as an option (SHI-4-x)
IR and other window materials
Custom designed vacuum shroud
500 K & 800 K high-temperature systems available on most models (800 K with special thermometry)
Non-optical configurations
Compact vacuum shroud (for use with electromagnets)
Large sample volume configuration

Standard models include:
("X" indicates the cooling power of the refrigerator)

SHI-4-X (optical)
SHI-4T-X (non-optical)
SHI-4S-X (sub-compact)
SHI-4XG-X (low-vibration interface)
CCR4-MMP (cryogen-free probe station)

Specifications

(including radiational heat load)

	SHI-4-2	SHI-4-5	SHI-4	SHI-4-15
Temperature range	<4 K* to 300 K	<4.5 K to 325 K	<4 K to 325 K	<4 K to 325 K
Initial cooldown time	<120 min to 5 K at 60 Hz <150 min to 5 K at 50 Hz	~70 min to 4.5 K	60 min to 4 K	60 min to 4 K
Cold head cooling power	0.13 W at 4.2 K (50 Hz) 0.2 W at 4.2 K (60 Hz)	0.7 W at 4.2 K	1 W at 4.2 K	1.5 W at 4.2 K
Cryostat weight	36 lb	53 lb	62 lb	63 lb
Compressor cooling	Air or Water	Water	Air or Water	Air or Water
* With four open radiation shield ports, f1 view angle.

NOTE: 500 K and 800 K versions available on most models.

Other configurations

Special designs include:

Pulse tube-based systems
Specialized for neutron scattering and diffraction applications

Special SHI-4-1 with very large cold plate on 2nd stage and cooled radiation shield windows

This system also has six semi-rigid cables connected from hermetic 2.92 mm feedthroughs on the instrumentation flange to the cold plate.

SHI-4H-1

This model SHI-4H-1 is a high temperature (500 K) system built on an RDK-101D cold head. Show with optional mounting stand with a black anodized finish.

SHI-4R 4 K cryocooler with rotatable vacuum shroud

A 1 W at 4.2 K system is shown.

4 K closed-cycle refrigerator with 2-axis optical alignment

Lake Shore is proud to announce rotation and positioning stages for our 4 K closed-cycle sample in vacuum cryostat systems. Rotation about the cryostat access has ~0.5° resolution and a range of ±360° about the cryostat axis and rotation is only limited by the helium flexlines and electrical cables. Rotation off the cryostat access has a resolution of <0.2° and a full range of 0° to 90° of motion. The system comes with four radiation shield windows and reaches a sample base temperature of ~4 K. This system is ideal when fine optical alignment is required for experimental samples.

SHI-4T-15 with a large cold plate on the second stage

This photo shows a special model SHI-4T-15 non-optical cryogen-free system with a large cold plate on the second stage.

Special SHI-4-15-UHV

Special 1.5 W system with an 8 in conflat tee for an instrumentation skirt. The customer will install this system on a UHV chamber (although the system itself is not truly UHV compatible).

Special SHI-4-15-UHV

This photo shows a bare model RDK-415D2B cold head with a non-rotatable 8 in CF flange and a heater block on the 2nd stage with a temperature sensor and two cartridge heaters. The system is designed to mount directly onto a user-supplied UHV chamber. This is not a "true UHV" system because the baking temperature is limited to 60 °C; it is designed for high vacuum conditions.

Special SHI-4XG-15-UHV

This special SHI-4XG-15-UHV is a true ultra-high vacuum (UHV) system that can be baked out to 500 K with exchange gas vibration isolation. This particular customer plans to use this system in scanning probe microscopy measurements. With this special system's radiation shield window configuration, it has a base temperature of 3 K.

Special SHI-4XG-15-UHV with bottom window

These pictures show an ultra-high vacuum vibration-isolated 4 K closed-cycle refrigerator system with a bottom window.

Special 1.5 W system for cooling hydrogen gas

Special Model SHI-4-15 with a conflat flange and heat exchangers on the 1st and 2nd stages for cooling hydrogen gas. The end user will install this cryocooler in an existing vacuum chamber and make his own connections to his Hydrogen inlet and outlet lines.

Special 1.5 W at 4.2 K system with coils wrapped around the 1st and 2nd stages for cooling gas from room temperature to ~4 K

This special model SHI-4-15-UHV was used in ion trap measurements. Lake Shore provided the cold head with the cooling coils and an instrumentation skirt. The second stage has a heater and temperature sensor to make it a fully variable temperature system. The customer connected the cooling coils to their room-temperature gas supply with the other end going into the ion trap.

Similar systems could be used in other applications to condense any gas into liquid.

SHI-4-15 with cooled radiation shield windows for operation below 3 K (typical)

This model SHI-4-15 has optional cooled radiation shield windows. The base temperature of this 1.5 W at 4.2 K system is expected to reach 3 K.

Special RDK-415D cold head

This photo shows a special RDK-415D cold head with a conflat flange and copper tubes wrapped around each stage for cooling a gas to 4 K or less.

Standard window block with countersunk screw holes option

Lake Shore usually uses pan-head screws on the retainers of window blocks, which add about 0.125 in to each side of the window block. In cases where space is an issue, talk to your sales engineer about countersunk screw holes in the retainers so that flathead screws can be used, as shown in this photo. This option can be offered on most window blocks with o-ring sealed windows. The window block shown can be used on our VPF-100, VPF-100H, ST-100, CCS-150, CCS-100/202, CCS-100/204, and SHI-4-2.

Modified window block

The photos show a standard optical cryostat with a specially modified window block. Two of the windows are our standard 1.63 in diameter clear view fused quartz. The other two windows are a special 2.63 in diameter clear view fused quartz. This window block can be used as an option on many other systems such as ST-100, VPF-100, SHI-4-2, SHI-4-5, SHI-4, CCS-150, CCS-450, CCS-100/202, and CCS-100/204. (The CCS-100/204 uses an optional large window using a different window block.)

Optional rotating stand for 4 K and 10 K cryocooler systems

This model PTSHI-4-5 features an optional rotating stand that allows the user to flip the entire cryostat upside-down. This is convenient for changing samples. The cryostat itself is rather heavy and it doesn't have any flat surface that will allow it to rest upside-down by itself. Without this rotating stand, gaining access to the sample area would be very difficult and inconvenient. This particular stand is designed to hold the cryostat 50 mm above the surface of an optical table but could be designed to hold the cryostat at any height specified by the customer. This stand can be used for 4 K and 10 K cryocooler systems.