As a world-wide leader in laboratory cryogenics, Janis has developed many custom cryogenic configurations. Many of these have been refined into a standard product line and are available from inventory.
What about your requirements? Aren't research and standard products contradictory? Your project is special and special equipment is often required.
Janis Research has the track record to back up its claim as the leader in custom cryogenics. Read below to find out about our two NASA Public Service Group Achievement Awards and our R & D 100 Award. The combination of these awards clearly states, in a manner no publicity rhetoric can, that Janis has the capability, the track record, and the will to go beyond the commonplace and provide what others cannot. The Janis Research staff has the experience and the knowledge to help even the most challenging program. Contact Janis to discuss your particular custom cryogenic problem. We will work with you to find the solution.
Products for Exo-atmospheric Research and Astronomy 
Under the umbrella of the custom cryogenics line, Janis Research has cooperated with NASA on several programs. This cooperation has extended over several areas of interest.
The ARC Argus program, successor to the ATLAS program, investigated the upper atmosphere from a balloon platform. (See photo to the right) Of interest to the program was the tracking of inert tracer molecules for determining direction and speed.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in cooperation with Janis, produced the first viable test hardware on the SIRTF program. This project involved a mirror test and qualification operating at liquid Helium temperatures. Sponsored by the LTS&E group, Janis received a Public Service Group Achievement Award for this program.
NASA GSFC worked with Janis on the AImS camera testing requirements. Working with UMD and the GSFC Planetary Systems group, Janis developed a test enclosure to mimic the Mars environment for earth-bound terrain testing.
Capillary Cooling Cryostat

In 1998, Janis was awarded a R & D 100 Award for the development of a capillary cooling cryostat, allowing the disciplines of FLNS and capillary electrophoresis to be combined for the first time.
Solid Neon Shielded Superfluid Helium Cryostat for Micro Gravity Studies in the Space Shuttle Environment

In 2000, Janis received its second NASA Public Service Group Achievement Award, again from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This time it was for Janis' performance on the FACET program, the development of a cryostat to comply with the Shuttle Hitchhiker program and providing a platform for microgravity experimentation. This second PSGAA, for a small company, is without precedent in the history of the JPL program and perhaps in all of NASA.
High-cooling Power Test Chamber
The chamber shown on the right is designed to provide a cryogenic work environment with an available temperature range of 20 K - 300 K. NASA intends for this chamber to become a multi-purpose instrument, capable of performing a wide variety of experiments. Initially, NASA will use the chamber to test and evaluate the performance of space qualified stepper motors. These motors will be used on rover vehicles in future Moon and Mars missions. The output of the stepper motor will be connected to a dynamometer outside the chamber, and the power, torque and other performance characteristics will be measured at various temperatures.
Cryogenic Cold Trap with Multiple Independently Controllable Chambers
Down Looking Detector Cooling Dewar
Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator
Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) Compatible Optical Cryostat
Ultra High Stability Variable Temperature Cryostat

The photo on the right shows an ultra high stability variable temperature cryostat offering variable temperatures between 5 K and 325 K, with controllable stable temperatures that maintain a better than 1 mK stability over a ten minute period. The sample may be located either in vacuum or in a cold gas environment (top loading) depending on the application. It is also available with a high field (6 to 17 tesla) superconducting magnet, with or without optical access to the sample. Contact Janis today for more information about this latest development in ultra high stability variable temperature cryostat systems.
Liquid Nitrogen Laser Cooling Dewar
Cryostat for High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging
The cryostat to the right was developed for intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by groups at Columbia University, Duke University, and DuPont. These cryostats are used to cool a set of high temperature superconducting (HTSC) radio-frequency receiver coils located near the patient or object to be imaged.

TSC receiver coils can produce the highest resolution images for the clinician, but place stringent requirements on the cryostat used to cool the coils in order that image quality is preserved. Here a specially-designed, non-magnetic vacuum tail is used to enclose the coils. The mechanical strength of this material under evacuation is critical to proper function as the coils are placed quite close to the inner wall of the vacuum tail. The tail is also translucent and provides the operator with ability to visually position the coils with respect to the patient. The coils are thermally anchored to a non-metallic substrate, and are able to be translated via the precision manipulators at the top of the cryostat (i.e., on the right hand side of the photo). The cryostat is also easy to operate as it employs Janis' SuperTran technology.
Cryostats for Low Temperature System for Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)/Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM)

Shown to the right is a special helium dewar supplied to Seoul National University in South Korea. This unit was to be integrated into a UHV surface analysis system which includes instruments such as an AFM/STM probe. Featuring a modular design, this cryostat required the full complement of Janis' design and manufacturing capabilities—all at a cost far below our competitors.
Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) Superconducting Magnet System with Optical Access

An 8 T split superconducting magnet system has been designed and built for a Scanning Tunneling Microscope with optical access to the microscope cooling stage. The microscope is top loaded into a UHV space that can be baked out to a temperature of 150 degrees Celsius without affecting the superconducting magnet or the rest of the cryostat. The system offers variable temperatures from below superfluid helium temperatures up to room temperature. Several variations are available on this basic design, enclosing bottom optical access, cryostats for Scanning Near Field Optical Microscopes, Atomic Force Microscopes, etc.
Superconducting Magnet System for use with Rigaku X-ray Generator and Theta/Theta Wide Angle Goniometer

Shown to the right is a superconducting magnet system for use with a Rigaku X-ray generator and Theta/Theta Wide Angle Goniometer. The sample is placed in a high magnetic field (0 to 40,000 Gauss) and its temperature can be varied between 2.5 and 300 K. The sample can be introduced into the high field region and located precisely with the aid of a UHV compatible translation stage. Samples can be changed without disturbing or warming up the magnet or the dewar that contains it.
Two side looking windows offer a wide angle X-ray beam path to the sample (traveling in vacuum), allowing access to the incoming and diffracted beams through angles of 0 to 38. The compact design allows the magnet system to fit precisely within the confines of the X-ray generator and goniometer.
The complete system includes heaters, field independent thermometry, an automatic temperature controller and a superconducting magnet power supply for charging and discharging the magnet. A high efficiency helium transfer line is also included for continuous cool down of the sample.
Room-temperature Vacuum Chamber

Shown to the right is a room-temperature vacuum chamber made from a CCS-150 instrumentation skirt. It has an anti-reflection coated window installed on top, two ten-pin feedthroughs, and a thermocouple vacuum gauge. This can be used to make electrical and optical measurements under a vacuum at room temperature.
Detector Cooling Systems Overview
With an extensive range of field-proven designs and a worldwide installation base, Janis Research DCD-series dewars represent the state-of-the-art in detector cooling. Constructed of stainless steel shells for maximum structural and vacuum integrity and, where possible, aluminum components for minimized weight, these systems combine fast cooldown with reliable vacuum-tight operation. Systems are available in both closed and open cycle configurations and are suitable for use in a variety of military, commercial and research applications. Janis Research offers several series of detector cooling dewars, which are listed below.
System assembly and integration is carried out in a cleanroom environment and in accordance with approved quality assurance procedures. A wide selection of options and accessories is available, including: LN2 autofill systems, multi-filter wheel inserts, automatic temperature controllers, the Janis Research MSV-1 00 all metal-sealed valve, complete documentation packages, etc.
Janis can provide complete customized systems, with services ranging from design analysis to prototype development and manufacture of production units.
Typical applications include IR detector arrays, IR cameras, CCD cooling, FTIR spectroscopy, medical imaging and microwave devices.
Detector Cooling Dewar Model DCD-100 Closed Cycle Cooled System

When space or availability constraints make the use of liquid cryogens impractical, a Janis Research DCD-100 series closed cycle system is the solution. Featuring stainless steel construction and fully integrated split Stirling cycle cryocoolers, these systems provide cold finger temperatures as low as 65 K in a compact, rugged and field-proven package. A proprietary Janis Research metal seal cryogenic valve eliminates the need for elastomer seals, thus providing enhanced vacuum hold times and system flexibility. Systems are typically bakeable to 80 ºC -- actual limits are determined by the characteristics of the detector package. All systems are fully tested prior to shipment; test results and complete documentation packages are available.
Custom-sized vacuum shells and refrigerator mounting arrangements are available, as is integration with all commercially available Stirling cycle cryocoolers. Standard elastomer-sealed valves, as well as fixed and demountable pinch-offs may also be used.
Features include:
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Rugged stainless steel construction ensures structural and vacuum integrity
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May be configured with any commercially available Stirling cycle cryocooler
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Available with metal seal valve
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May be customized to meet a variety of size, weight and performance requirements
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Operable in any orientation
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