Pulse tube cryocoolers vs.
Gifford-McMahon cryocoolers

Three main differences exist between pulse-tube cryocoolers (PT) and Gifford-McMahon cryocoolers (GM).

1. Price—In general, GM cryocoolers are less expensive than PT cryocoolers of similar cooling power.
2. Vibration—Both GM and PT cryocoolers are mechanical refrigerators that do have some level of vibration. Two locations exist on the cold head where vibration is important: The room temperature mounting flange and the second stage (see photo).
3. Orientation—The performance of PT cryocoolers is orientation-dependent. PT cryocoolers only function properly when they are operated in a purely vertical orientation with the second stage pointing down. GM cryocoolers will lose some cooling power when the cold head is not operated vertically, but the base temperature will not be affected. GM cryocoolers can operate in any orientation.

SHI RDK-101D 0.2 W at 4.2 K Gifford-McMahon cold head	SHI RP-062B 0.5 W at 4.2 K pulse-tube cold head

The room temperature mounting flange provides the interface for a vacuum shroud or vacuum chamber. Vibrations at the room temperature mounting flange will be transmitted to the vacuum shroud and anything else the shroud is physically contacting.

This is important if the cryocooler is rigidly mounted on other instruments that are sensitive to vibrations. An example would be a cryocooler installed in the evacuated sample compartment of an FTIR spectrometer. Any vibrations from this room-temperature mounting flange would be transmitted through the vacuum shroud to the spectrometer. These vibrations may cause damage or misalignment to the delicate optics inside the spectrometer.

When a cryocooler is mounted on a delicate instrument such as the FTIR spectrometer, a PT system would be a better choice than a GM system because the vibration level at the room temperature mounting flange of a PT system is significantly lower than in a GM system.

The sample being cooled is usually mounted onto the second stage. Any vibrations from the second stage will be transmitted directly to the sample.

GM cold heads have vibrations at the second stage on the order of 20 µm along the axis of the cold head. GM cold heads have vibrations on the order of ~5 µm perpendicular to the axis of the cold head.

Pulse-tube cold heads have vibrations on the order of 4 to 7 µm along the axis of the cold head and ~2 µm perpendicular to the axis of the cold head.

Unlike GM cold heads, PT cold heads do not have any internal moving parts to add to the vibration levels of the cold head. However, expansion of the compressed helium gas inside each stage of the cold head does contribute to the vibration level at the second stage. This is true for both PT and GM cold heads.

The valve motor on GM cold heads is always bolted to this room-temperature mounting flange. As the motor turns, the valve is opened and closed. This same motor also drives the pistons (displacers) inside the first and second-stage cylinders.

The vibrations from this valve motor will contribute to the overall level of vibrations of the cold head. The movement of the displacers may also contribute to the vibrations at this flange on a GM cold head.

The valve motor on some PT cold heads does have moving parts to open and close the rotary valve, although a “remote valve option” is available for the SHI RP-062B and all Cryomech PT systems allowing the valve motor to be mounted externally from the cold head, reducing vibrations from the motor.

A PT system would be a better choice if:

1. Vibrations at the sample must be less than 20 µm.
2. Vibrations from the cold head must be isolated from other equipment interfacing with the cryostat.

A GM system may be a better choice if:

1. Vibrations on the order of 20 µm at the sample are acceptable.
2. The cryostat will not be rigidly mounted to any equipment that is sensitive to mechanical vibrations.
3. A base temperature of 4 K or below is necessary, but a PT system is beyond the budget limitations.
4. The cold head will not be oriented vertically with the second stage pointing down.

If vibrations at the sample must be less than 5 µm, Lake Shore has a special design for a vibration-isolated exchange gas-cooled system. This system includes a 4 K, 7 K, or 10 K GM cold head with a special exchange gas vibration isolation system that reduces the vibration at the sample mount to less than 50 nm. The cryocooler does not physically contact the sample area, so vibrations from the cold head are essentially isolated from the sample. Because there is no physical contact between the cold head and the sample mount in this system, there is no incentive to use a more expensive PT cryocooler when a GM cryocooler will offer the same vibrational performance at a lower price.

4 K pulse tube cryocoolers offered by Lake Shore

4 K Sumitomo Gifford-McMahon cryocoolers offered by Lake Shore

10 K cryocoolers are also available.

Need a custom-engineered cryogenic system? We can help with that.