Physical Properties Measurement System: Quantum Design DynaCool™

Electrical, magnetic and thermophysical material characterisation at magnetic fields of up to 14 T and temperatures between 400 – 1.8 K.

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Overview

The Quantum Design DynaCoolTM Physical Properties Measurement System (PPMS) is a multifunctional instrument, able to measure the electromagnetic and thermodynamic properties of virtually any material under magnetic fields of up to ± 14 T and temperatures of 400 K – 1.8 K (and up to 1000 K in the case of magnetisation measurements). Unique in the UK, the MRF’s PPMS can characterise samples that have been irradiated, with activities < 0.1 MBq Co60 equivalent. Modules currently installed are: Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (& VSM oven), AC Measurement System II, Electrical Transport Option, Resistivity Option, Heat Capacity Option, Thermal Transport Option, Horizontal Rotator Option.

The Physical Properties Measurement System in the laboratory.
Quantum Design DynaCoolTM Physical Properties Measurement System (PPMS) with linear motor attached.

Applications

  • Vibrating Sample Magnetometer: DC magnetisation
  • AC Measurement System II: AC magnetic susceptibility and DC magnetisation
  • Electrical Transport Option: electrical resistance, hall-coefficient, current-voltage characteristics, and differential current-voltage characteristics
  • Resistivity Option: electrical resistance
  • Heat Capacity Option: specific heat capacity
  • Thermal Transport Option: thermal conductance, Seebeck coefficient, resistivity, thermoelectric figure of merit
  • Horizontal Rotator Option: sample rotation – compatible with the ETO and resistivity options

Technical Specification

Temperature Control

  • 1 hour to cool from room temperature to 1.8 K
  • 0.1 % stability for T < 20 K , 0.02 % stability for T > 20 K

Magnetic Field Control

  • Max field ramp rate: 0.01 T s-1
  • 0.1 % field uniformity over central 5.5 cm sample space

Vibrating Sample Magnetometer

  • Max Field ramp rate: 0.01 T s-1
  • DC moment precision: 1 nA m2
  • Accuracy: ± 0.5 %

AC Measurement System II

  • AC moment precision: 10 pA m2
  • DC moment precision: 5 nA m2
  • Accuracy : ± 1%

Electrical Transport Option

  • 2 measurement channels
  • Dynamic range : 10 μΩ – 5 GΩ
  • Precision: 10 nΩ
  • Accuracy: ± 0.1% R < 200 kΩ
  • ± 0.2% R ≈ 1 MΩ
  • ± 2.0% R < 1 GΩ
  • ± 5.0% R = 5 GΩ

Resistivity Option

  • 3 measurement channels
  • Dynamic range: 10 μΩ – 5 MΩ
  • Precision: 4 μΩ
  • Accuracy: ± 0.1% R < 200 kΩ
  • ± 0.2% R ≈ 1 MΩ

Heat Capacity Option

  • Precision: 10 nJ/K
  • Accuracy: ± 5%

Thermal Transport Option

  • Dynamic Range: 1 – 25 mW/K for T = 400 K
  • 100 μW/K – 100 mW/K for T ≈ 50 K
  • 10 μW/K – 1 mW/K for T ≈ 1.9 K
  • Accuracy: ± 5 %