Cryogenic solutions

Why cryogenic environments are essential

Cryogenic environments are not only used to reach low temperatures, but to fundamentally enable physical phenomena that are impossible at higher temperatures. As systems approach absolute zero, thermal noise is drastically reduced, material behaviour becomes more predictable, and effects such as superconductivity and quantum coherence can emerge.

This is particularly important in dilution refrigerators. These systems cool down to temperatures in the 10–20 millikelvin range, where quantum devices and highly sensitive measurement setups can operate. At these temperatures, even the smallest heat input or electrical disturbance can disrupt system performance, making thermal stability critical for signal integrity.

An important challenge in these environments is not only temperature control, but also the management of electrical noise and heat transfer. High-frequency noise (such as RF or Johnson noise) can interfere with measurements, while conductive materials can introduce unwanted heat into the coldest stages. For this reason, specialised components are required. For example, mineral insulated (MI) coaxial cables are used as natural low-pass filters, reducing high-frequency noise while limiting thermal conduction towards the coldest stage.
In addition, signals must be transmitted from the cryogenic environment to external measurement systems without distortion. This requires materials and designs that remain stable under extreme thermal cycling and vacuum conditions. At the same time, accurate temperature measurement down to a few kelvin or even millikelvin is essential to monitor and control the system, requiring highly stable sensor technologies such as platinum-cobalt RTDs.

As a result, every component inside a cryogenic system — from sensors to cabling and connectors — directly contributes to overall system performance. A well-designed cryogenic environment ensures not only low temperatures, but also clean signals.

In addition to the sensor, reliable signal transmission from the cryogenic environment to the measurement electronics is critical. Cryogenic coaxial MI cable assemblies ensure stable performance in vacuum and low-temperature conditions where conventional cables may fail due to outgassing, thermal contraction or material degradation. They are widely used in applications such as dilution refrigerators, where signal integrity and mechanical robustness are essential.