Specifications Rev.1.pdf

Requirements / Specifications: Dilution Referigerator for Development of Quantum Sensors

REV.1 Dated 9/2/2022

TITLE: Dilution Refrigerator for Development of Quantum Sensors Requesting Lab/Division/Group: PML/687/G8 NB687080-22-01740

General Statement of Need The NIST Quantum Sensors Group develops arrays of superconducting sensors for applications in metrology, materials analysis, and astrophysics. These sensors typically operate at temperatures in the milliKelvin range, which requires specialized refrigeration technology. To enable the design, testing, and operation of larger and more sensitive detector packages, the Quantum Sensors Group seeks to purchase a cryogenic dilution refrigerator whose base temperature, cooling power, and mechanical form factor are matched to detector projects.

Items and/or Ancillary Services Item 1: Dilution Refrigerator Quantity: 1 Specifications:

The dilution refrigerator system shall:

1. Consist of a vacuum shell at ambient temperature and the following thermal stages within: 50K, 4K, 1K, and 100mK mixing chamber (MXC). These stages shall be thermally isolated from one another.

2. Include radiation shields at the 50K, 4K, and 1K stages to protect thermal radiation from coupling to lower thermal stages from higher thermal stages.

3. Achieve 30mK or lower at the MXC stage by use of a mixture of He3 and He4 gas as the coolant.

4. Have measurement lines (ie experimental wiring) to control and monitor the output of cryogenic detector arrays. These lines shall run from 300K to the MXC stage and shall have thermal anchors at each stage in between.

Physical requirements: The DR system shall:

5. Have a MXC diameter of 150 mm or more.

6. Have a vacuum system with a base pressure of 10-6 Torr or less. The vacuum system shall use only oil-free, dry pumps.

7. Include radiation shields for 50K, 4K, and 1K temperature stages to prevent thermal radiation coupling from a high temperature stage to a lower temperature stage.

8. Include a two-part vacuum shell and two-part 50K radiation shield to be split and flanged at the location of the 4K flange. These are required for ease of assembly.

9. Have an aluminium vacuum shell for ease of handling.

10. Include the supporting mechanical structure such as the floor mount.

11. Have extensive vibration isolation including but not limited to a remote rack-mounted turbo pump with bellows, flexible thermal links between the pulse tube and cryostat stages, and pulse tube bellows damping stage at 300 K. The Vendor shall provide documentation demonstrating the vibration amplitude of the MXC flange in the vertical and radial directions.

Preference shall be given to designs with lower vibration levels.

12. Be compatible with a downward facing optical port, so that the vacuum jacket, 50K, 4K, and 1K radiation shields all have provisions for a flange on their bottoms. The unit shall be supplied with blanks for these flanges.

13. Be controlled by software that is able to control all aspects of the tool. This software must also provide users a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that shows users the state of the tool (such as valve positions, pressure, and temperatures at various positions within the system), and allows users to change the state of the tool (such as the operating temperature).

14. Include all computer systems, power supplies, chillers and/or heat exchangers (if necessary) and all ancillary equipment required for the system to operate.

15. Be able to be powered using 120 V or 208 V single or 3-phase power source(s).

16. Be designed for normal operation at an altitude of 1,600 meters above sea level.

Performance of the refrigerator. The DR system shall:

17. Operate without liquid helium, i.e., pulse tube cooler is used instead of liquid helium to cool down to 4 K.

18. Have a cool-down time to 30 mK of less than 15 h without LN2 precooling.

19. Have cooling power of at least 40 W at 45 K, at least 1.0 W at 4.2 K, and at least 250 microwatt at 100 mK.

20. Ability to operate for at least 1 month without using liquid nitrogen cold trap.Mixture circulation system. The DR system shall:

21. Not have a membrane pump in the 3He—4He mixture circulation since they have short service periods and the rupture of the membrane leads potentially to loss or contamination of the mixture.

22. Have a dilution unit free of soft-solder joints, including but not limited to tin-lead solder.

Soft-solders are known to develop micro-fractures and cold leaks over time.

22. REVISED to: Refrigerator reliability is important for long term success. Vendors are encouraged to provide information supporting the reliability of their refrigerators. The nature of this information is left to the choice of the vendor. For example, the information could consist of descriptions of materials or construction techniques that improve reliability. As another example, the information could consist of reliability data from fielded units.

23. Use oil-free pumps and compressors in the mixture circulation system

24. Before shipping the system, the contractor shall provide the Government a factory acceptance report demonstrating that the DR system performs according to tool specifications listed in this statement of work.

25. The customer shall supply the 3He for all DR operations at the customer site. The vendor shall supply the 3He for all DR operations at the vendor site.

Operation. The DR system shall:

26. Have heat-exchange-gas-free operation, i.e., the Device shall have only a single vacuum feedthrough stage at room temperature, which implies that no heat exchange gas can be used in the large vacuum can.

27. Run fully automated with computer-controlled valves and pumps. Press-of-a-button cool-down control.

28. Include a panel with the possibility to override the automation and to fully control the bulling Cross-Out

Device manually.

29. Include the capability to control the Device with user-written software (Python, LabView, and MATLAB) running on an additional user-supplied computer.

Supplies. The following accessories shall be provided by the contractor:

30. Temperature measurement and control equipment including thermometers and a resistance bridge with a PID controller. It must be possible to control the refrigerator temperature within data acquisition software written by the customer. The temperature stability at the mixing chamber plate shall be better than sub-millikelvin rms at temperatures below 100 mK. Thermometers shall be included at each low temperature stage.

31. Electrical connections to the resistive thermometers shall be filtered to prevent electromagnetic interference.

32. A warm-up heater, installed, for faster warm-up of the refrigerator. The warm-up heater shall include at least one heating element on the 4 K plate and a programmable power supply.

The refrigerator shall warm up in 13 hours or less using the warm-up heater.

Experimental wiring. The DR unit shall include:

33. Microwave experimental wiring consisting of coaxial cables and connectors adhering to MIL-STD-348 (known commonly as SMA connectors) and thermal anchoring at each temperature stage.

a. Microwave input lines shall consist of

i. From 300K to 4K: quantity 4 0.86mm SCuNi/CuNi coaxial cables. Individual coaxial connectors shall be welded to a 300K flange, rather than sealed with individual o-rings, or mounted using keyed connectors that connect rotate loose.

ii. From 4K to mixing chamber: quantity 4 0.86 mm SCuNi-CuNi coaxial cables

b. Microwave output lines shall consist of

i. From 300K to 4K: quantity 4 2.19 mm SCuNi/CuNi coaxial cables. Individual coaxial connectors shall be welded to a 300K flange, rather than sealed with individual o-rings, or mounted using keyed connectors that cannot rotate loose.

ii. From 4K to mixing chamber: quantity 4 0.86 mm NbTi-NbTi coaxial cables.

34. Experimental wiring of 2 sets of 12 AWG-36 phosphor-bronze twisted pairs including installation and thermalization from room temperature to 4 K. Installation to include a break-out box with a standard connector for each wire at room temperature and a standard connector for each wire at 4 K. These wires will connect to the wires in the next item.

35. Experimental wiring of 2 sets of 12 NbTi/CuNi low-ohmic superconducting twisted pairs including installation and thermalization from 4 K to base temperature. Installation to include standard connectors for each wire at 4 K and base temperature. Micro-D Subminiature (MDM) connectors shall be used at both 4 K and MXC stage.

36. Experimental wiring of at least 6 twisted pairs of 36 AWG copper from room temperature to the 50 K stage. This set of wires shall include anchoring to the pulse tube and standard connectors at room temperature and 50 K. The purpose of these lines is to power user-supplied low noise microwave amplifiers operated at the 50 K stage.

37. Experimental wiring of at least 6 twisted pairs of 36 AWG copper from room temperature to the 4 K stage. This set of wires shall include anchoring to the pulse tube and standard connectors at room temperature and 4 K. The purpose of these lines is to power user-supplied low noise microwave amplifiers operated at the 4 K stage.

38. All wiring shall be heat sunk at each successive stage of the refrigerator.

Separately Priced Options and Services:

Item 2: Warranty Quantity: 1 Specifications: A three-year warranty on all parts and labor.

Item 3: Training by Vendor Quantity: 5 Specifications: The vendor shall provide training for at least 5 members of NIST staff on dilution refrigerator operation, including how to identify and rectify common off-normal conditions. Training can be provided in person or remotely. Training shall be substantial in nature and include transfer of manuals and other necessary instructional materials to NIST.

Item 4: Installation by Vendor - Optional Quantity: 1 Specifications: If the unit can be uncrated, installed, and comissioned by NIST staff, then that is acceptable. If the unit cannot be uncrated, installed, and comissioned by NIST staff, then the vendor shall visit the NIST Boulder site to uncrate, install, and commission the unit.

Service Requirements / Item Specifications Section Requirements/Specifications

Planning Considerations ☒ N/A

☐ List any visits required to allow potential vendors to see site specific constraints.

[Explain requirement here]

☐ US citizen required on-site (foreign nationals require preregistration 30 days prior) ☐ Vendor rep on-site more than three days ☐ Other considerations: [List other considerations to ensure an accurate quote]

Shipping & Delivery ☒ N/A

[Enter shipping and delivery information by item here.] Shipping criteria:

☐ Partial delivery acceptable ☐ Direct delivery to building required

[Explain need for requirement here] Building has: ☐ Loading dock

☐ Containerization preference: [Choose container] Other requirements: [List any other requirements here]

Delivery date criteria:

☐ Delivery of goods, installation, and training shall be completed no later than:

[Insert date here] ☐ Deliver no earlier than: [Insert date here] ☐ Other: [List other shipping, delivery, or specil requirements]

Electronic Media ☐ N/A

[Enter electronic media requirements by item here.] ☒ Software ☒ Electronic manuals ☐ License Key ☐ Other: [List any other Electronic Media requirements here] joel.ullom@nist.gov

Installation ☐ N/A

[Enter installation requirements by item here.] ☐ Vendor technician on site ☐ Rigging ☐ Uncrating / Unpackaging ☐ Removal of packaging material ☐ Equipment set up ☐ Start-up services ☐ Turn key installation ☐ Other [Enter details here.] Note: When installation is required, TPOC or COR shall be the coordination point.

Facility / Utility Considerations ☒ N/A

[List site specific utility considerations by item here.] ☐ OFPM Work Order Number(s)

[List any Work Order Number(s) here] ☐ Power available

Voltage: [Enter voltage here] (V) Max Current: [Enter max current draw here] (A) Phase: [Choose phase] Frequency: [Typically 60Hz] (Hz) NEMA Plug Type: [Enter plug type here] (i.e.: NEMA L5-20P) Environment: [Choose environment] Other power consideration: [List any other power considerations here]

☐ Utility connections: [List relevant available utilities, pressure(s), and flowrate(s)] ☐ Other considerations: [List other considerations to ensure an accurate quote]

Warranty ☐ N/A

Extended Warranty Required [If you require an Extended Manufacturer Warranty, describe the warranty requirements per item here.] What is included?

☒ Labor ☒ Parts ☐ Travel ☐ Cost and liability for returns ☐ Other: [Enter other requirements here] ☒ Warranty length: 3 Period Length: Years

Training ☐ N/A

[Training requirements (who, when, what, where) here. If on-site, is travel necessary?] ☐ On-site ☐ Off-site location: [Enter location(s) here] ☐ Number of trainees: [Enter number of trainees here] Scope of training:

☐ Operations ☐ Maintenance ☐ Troubleshooting ☐ Safety ☐ Other: [Enter other scope requirements here]

☐ Training materials to be provided: [Describe requirement here] ☐ Other: [Enter other training requirements here] Note: When training is required, TPOC or COR shall be the coordination point.

Inspection and Acceptance ☐ N/A

[Enter inspection requirements per item here] ☐ Planned government acceptance testing (7 business days) ☒ Gov’t acceptance expected to take longer than 7 business days: 1 month ☐ Inspection and acceptance plan: [Explain here] ☐ Other: [Enter other requirements here]

Maintenance ☒ N/A

[Describe your maintenance requirements per item here] Period Length: [Ex. month, 6 month, year etc.] What is included?

☐ Labor ☐ Spare parts ☐ Consumables ☐ Travel ☐ Cost and liability for returns ☐ Software updates ☐ Manuals ☐ Service plan length: [Enter service plan length here]

☐ Other: [Enter other requirements here] ☐ Requirements: [Enter requirements here] (i.e.: onsite within 72 hours, etc.)

☐ Option Period 1 ☐ Option Period 2 ☐ Option Period 3 ☐ Option Period 4

Government Furnished Material / Equipment ☒ N/A

[List any government furnished material/equipment per item here] ☐ Samples for testing ☐ Government equipment which will leave gov't site (TPOC must coordinate with division property custodian) Serial Number: [Enter Serial Number here] Description: [Enter description here] NIST property number: [Enter NIST property number here] ☐ Other: [Enter other details here]

Travel ☒ N/A

[Describe any travel requirements per item here] ☐ Explain: [Explain here] ☐ Other: [Enter other requirements here] Vendor: To the maximum extent possible, include as part of appropriate sections above (maintenance, repair, etc.). Otherwise, it will be a separate line item, reimbursable per the Federal Travel Regulation.

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