Advancement in the Continuous Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator (CADR) Technology For The Next Generation Of Cryogenic Detectors

The next generation of cryogenically cooled detectors are pushing the frontier of technology by increasing sensitivity and pixel count. As a result; these detectors have higher heat loads and require an in-kind advancement in their cooling systems. For example; the Line Emission Mapper (LEM) Probe Mission requires a Continuous Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator (CADR) to cool its focal plane array from 4 K to 40 mK with a continuous-temperature heat intercept platform at 350 mK. The goal of this proposal is to performance test a demonstration mock-up of a CADR that provides a continuous-temperature heat intercept platform at 350 mK. This requires the design; fabrication; and testing of a novel CADR stage that is flightworthy. This will also provide important contributions to the development of our CADR technology that is needed for any future Astrophysics mission that requires a cryogenic detector.

The demonstration of a heat intercept platform providing a continuous temperature at 350 mK using a CADR. This is essential for the next generation of cryogenic detectors and has not been shown before. We target LEM's “High-Temperature CADR” for this demonstration since it's required to be shown before PDR. This will require an increase in the of key components; like LEM’s Stage 3a; necessitating the design and fabrication of a novel ADR stage. The stage developed here can be used on and adapted to other missions like PRIMA. This effort also provides strategic contributions to the development of a CADR essential for any flagship mission that requires sub-Kelvin cooling.

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