Cryogenic CMOS-based control system for superconductor electronics
Date
2008
Authors
Van Niekerk P.C.
Fourie C.J.
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Volume Title
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Abstract
This article describes the design and evaluation of a CMOS-based control system for use in Cryogenic vacuum environments. A control system, with accompanying software, was designed to interface superconductive digital and sensor circuits in a cryocooler to portable computers at room temperature. It is designed to operate as close as possible to the superconductors to reduce thermal noise. The controller connects via a fibre optical RS-232 interface to any Universal Serial Bus connector on a computer at a data rate of 1 Megabaud. The interface to the superconductor electronics consists of 16-bit ultra low-noise analogue to digital converters and digital to analogue converters. Extensive research and testing was done on all components - both active and passive - to validate operation at 60 K. An integrated temperature control system was designed to ensure a stable temperature environment. Results are shown and discussed.
Description
Keywords
Analogue to digital converters, CMOS-based, CMOS-based control system, Cryocoolers, Cryogenic vacuum, Data rates, Digital to analogue converters, Low noise, Portable computers, Room temperature, Sensor circuit, Superconductor electronics, Universal Serial Bus, Control theory, Cryogenic equipment, Cryogenics, Digital circuits, Microcomputers, Superconducting materials, Superconductivity, Interfaces (computer)
Citation
Transactions of the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers
99
2
99
2