The National Science Foundation awarded a $225,000 two-year Project Grant to Stanford University under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049). The grant will support research into developing materials and techniques to enable sub-kelvin cooling via adiabatic decompression of para-nematic materials.
Specifically, Stanford University researchers will identify and characterize rare earth compound materials with thermoelastic properties suitable for cryogenic cooling without liquid helium. They will conduct crystal growth, low-temperature characterization of elastocaloric response under strain, and improvements in thermometry. The researchers also plan to design and test a prototype system to demonstrate the cooling effect of alternately squeezing and releasing strain in candidate para-nematic materials. If successful, this approach could provide a more sustainable alternative to existing ultra-low temperature cooling technologies.
Generated 1/7/24, 3:34 AM