Fluorescence Spectrometers Upgraded for Cryogen-free Cooling to <3 K

Edinburgh Instruments have recently upgraded an existing FLS980 Fluorescence Spectrometer with the capability to measure over a large temperature range, from <3 K to 300 K, without the need for cryogenic liquids such as liquid nitrogen and the even rarer liquid helium. This is made possible by integrating the new OptistatTM Dry from Oxford Instruments which utilises a Gifford-McMahon cooler with a helium gas closed circuit. This effectively eliminates the need for continuous supply of liquid helium in steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements at temperatures down to 3 K. Measurements at these temperatures are essential in the study of semiconductors and non-linear crystals, due to their weak photoluminescence at room and liquid nitrogen temperature.

The Optistat Dry, launched earlier this year, provides great benefits in terms of ease of use and running costs. New software was developed to allow the cryostat operation to be controlled directly from within the F980 operating software of the FLS980 Fluorescence Spectrometer, allowing us to provide a fully integrated solution. By working with this new technology, Edinburgh Instruments have enabled their customers to work with various samples over a wide temperature range, without the need for cryogenic consumables, and enabling long experiments to run without interruption.

Furthermore, Edinburgh Instruments is looking into integrating OptistatTM Dry into their FS5 Spectrofluorometer to make this option available to all of their customers.