View source for Physics:Helium-3 refrigerator

 A '''helium-3 refrigerator''' is a simple device used in experimental [[Physics:Physics|physics]] for obtaining [[Physics:Temperature|temperature]]s down to about 0.2 [[Kelvin|kelvin]]s. By evaporative cooling of [[Physics:Helium-4|helium-4]] (the more common [[Physics:Isotope|isotope]] of [[Chemistry:Helium|helium]]), a [[Physics:1-K pot|1-K pot]] liquefies a small amount of [[Physics:Helium-3|helium-3]] in a small vessel called a helium-3 pot. Evaporative cooling at low pressure of the liquid helium-3, usually driven by [[Chemistry:Adsorption|adsorption]] since due to its high price the helium-3 is usually contained in a closed system to avoid losses, cools the helium-3 pot to a fraction of a kelvin.
== Use ==
Helium-3 refrigerators are commonly used in [[Physics:Particle accelerator|particle accelerators]] to chill magnets.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cryogenics: Low temperatures, high performance {{!}} CERN|url=https://home.cern/science/engineering/cryogenics-low-temperatures-high-performance|access-date=2020-12-14|website=home.cern}}</ref> 

==See also==
*[[Physics:Dilution refrigerator|Dilution refrigerator]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.its.caltech.edu/~jpelab/cryogenics.html Helium-3 refrigerators at Caltech]
*[http://liquids.seas.harvard.edu/penanen/workings.html Helium-3 refrigerators at Harvard]

[[Category:Cryogenics]]
[[Category:Cooling technology]]


{{Sourceattribution|Helium-3 refrigerator}}