Thermal link for cartridge-type cryostat

We have developed a simple and small thermal link for cooling a cylindrical cartridge, on which device under test is mounted. It consists of a crown-like ring with an inner diameter of 170 or 140 mm and a clamping belt, which is a metal spring or nylon. A thermal conduction of the thermal link is achieved as the crown-like ring clamps the disk-like stage of the cartridge with external force of the clamping belt. This link can be applied at various temperature ranges from 2 to 100 K. The measured thermal conductance of the 170 mm link is 1.7, 5.6 and 3.3 W K-1 for 4, 12, and 80 K stages, respectively. These values are consistent with a empirical calculation within 10% errors. This link is also effective to reduce mechanical vibration to be 6 mum (peak-to-peak) in the horizontal direction of the cartridge. This link is easily fabricated and is useful to various detectors which require to be cooled down. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd.