Thermal and Electrical Resistance of Vanadium at 4K
Problem statement
The discovery of distant planets, stars, and even black holes all rely on the precision of highly sensitive space detectors. These instruments require extreme operating temperatures as low as 50 mK [1], among the coldest in the universe. Achieving and maintaining such frigid temperatures presents a significant engineering challenge. However, for NASA, overcoming this challenge is critical to further our understanding of the cosmos. A vanadium-based heat switch used in sub-Kelvin cryocoolers holds the potential to revolutionize space detectors by reducing the size of current systems by up to 1/3 and improving cooling efficiency by up to 20 times [2]. This would have a profound impact on astrophysical research and space instrumentation. Professor Miller and his team of graduate students are collaborating with NASA to address this need. However, vanadium’s thermal and electrical resistances across the temperature spectrum, especially at cryogenic levels, remain poorly understood [3]. Without accurate data on these properties, it is nearly impossible for Professor Miller and these students to design a reliable and efficient vanadium-based heat switch. With this senior design project, we aim to develop an advanced testing facility that will gather high-resolution data on vanadium’s behavior from room temperature to cryogenic levels. Utilizing this testing facility, we will be able to measure various vanadium samples of differing material treatments and purities. This data will provide critical information to Prof. Miller and his team, allowing for the further development of vanadium heat switches and in turn help to unlock the next generation of space instrumentation.
Team members
Samuel Dougherty – facilitator
Nika Logofet – communicator
Ben Weber – accountant
Savannah Kipperman – admin
Client
Franklin Miller