A Compact Cryogen-Free Platform Operating at 1 K or 50 Mk

We report the design and performance characteristics of a compact cryogen-free platform. The system is based around a continuous 1 K pot which operates using a small (10 m(3) h(-1)) room temperature circulation pump. The pot cools an experimental plate to approximate to 1.2 K, and has a cooling capacity of 100 mW at a temperature approximate to 1.9 K. Cooling the pot from room temperature to < 2 K takes around 12 hours. The temperature range of the platform can be lowered to < 50 mK with the addition of a small dilution refrigerator, using the 1 K pot as a pre-cooling stage for the circulating He-3. The dilution stage has a typical (continuous) cooling capacity of 30 mu W at 100 mK (300 mu W at 250 mK) and is designed to operate with just 3 litres of (NTP) He-3.