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Environmental Testing of High Tc Superconductive Thermal Isolators for Space-Borne Cryogenic Detector Systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Stephanie A. Wise ,
John D. Buckley ,
Henry W. Randolf ,
Darren Verbelyi ,
Gene H. Haertling ,
Matthew W. Hooker ,
Raouf Selim  and
Randall Caton
Stephanie A. Wise
Affiliation:
NASA-Langley Research Center Hampton, VA 23665
John D. Buckley
Affiliation:
NASA-Langley Research Center Hampton, VA 23665
Henry W. Randolf
Affiliation:
Savannah River Laboratory Aiken, SC 29808
Darren Verbelyi
Affiliation:
Savannah River Laboratory Aiken, SC 29808
Gene H. Haertling
Affiliation:
Department of Ceramic Engineering, Clemson University Clemson, SC 29634–0907
Matthew W. Hooker
Affiliation:
Department of Ceramic Engineering, Clemson University Clemson, SC 29634–0907
Raouf Selim
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Computer Science, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA 23606
Randall Caton
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Computer Science, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA 23606
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Abstract

NASA's requirements for space-based cryogenic detector systems include the long-term storage of the liquid helium cryogen necessary for the optimized performance of far-infrared (IR) detectors. Significant heat loads on the liquid helium dewars exist due to the numerous electrical connections to the detectors, accounting for approximately 20 percent of the total heat load for some systems. High temperature superconductor lead assemblies are under development to replace the existing manganin wires connecting instruments at 80 K to the detector array at 4.2 K. These superconductive elements provide adequate current transport properties, while decreasing the thermal load on the liquid helium dewar. As a result, mission lifetimes can be extended by 10 percent or more.

Thick films of the superconductive material on low thermal conductivity substrates (e.g. yttria stabilized zirconia and fused silica) have been proposed to replace the existing lead assemblies. This work describes some of the design constraints on such a device as well as preliminary analyses of the effects of vibration, gamma irradiation, and long term exposure to high vacuum and liquid nitrogen encountered in operating such a device in space.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 275: Symposium S – Layered Superconductors: Fabrication, Properties and Applications , 1992 , 831
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1992

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References

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