Compact Gifford-McMahon coolers
Small GM coolers
The Gifford-McMahon (GM) CoolStar series of cold heads was originally developed by Edwards in England. After an interlude of a few years at RICOR in Israel, Oxford Cryosystems Ltd. in Long Hanborough now manufactures these coolers. The CoolStar coolers are built in two capacity levels, each as single-stage and two-stage models. The CryoDrive compressors are also built by Oxford Cryosystems. They were completely redesigned after the acquisition and are now state of the art.
Oxford Cryosystems' chillers are characterized by very quiet operation and high reliability. The stepper motor used for the valve drive allows them to be operated at different frequencies and thus adapted to the current operating conditions.
Models 2/9 and 0/12
The model 2/9 Gifford-McMahon cooler is probably the smallest GM cooler on the market. It is used when compact dimensions and/or light weight are critical.
The small 2/9 two-stage model offers cooling capacities of 2 W (20 K) on the 2nd stage and 9 W (77 K) on the 1st stage. It is particularly suitable for applications where quietness, compactness and light weight are important, but cooling capacity is not so important. The minimum temperatures of the 2/9 are about 10 K on the 2nd stage and about 40 K on the 1st stage. This information on cooling capacity, as well as all the following, always assumes a sufficient insulation vacuum and, if necessary, suitable radiation shielding.
The corresponding single-stage cold head 0/12 is naturally somewhat shorter. Its minimum temperature is <30 K.
We offer these cold heads in the "bare" version, but also with installed temperature sensor and heater(s). Special vacuum vessels and sample environments are also possible after consultation.
Models 6/30 and 0/40
The larger two-stage model 6/30 offers cooling capacities of 6 W (20 K) on the 2nd stage and 30 W (77 K) on the 1st stage. It is particularly suitable for applications where a higher cooling capacity is required. Despite the higher cooling capacity, the 6/30 model is also quiet and compact. The minimum temperatures of the 6/30 are approximately <10 K on the 2nd stage and approximately <35 K on the 1st stage.
The corresponding single-stage cold head 0/40 also builds slightly shorter than the two-stage version. Its minimum temperature is <25 K.
We also offer these cold heads in the "bare" version as well as equipped with temperature sensor and heater(s), and in combination with adapted vacuum vessels and sample environments.
Further Information