Montana Instruments Corporation (Bozeman, MT), the world’s leading manufacturer of automated optical cryostats, announces the addition of the Microscope option to its closed cycle cryostat, the Cryostationâ„¢. Many low temperature material science experiments require high magnification optics to image the sample surface. Historically, this research has been limited to using objectives outside the vacuum space of the cryostats and dealing with the distortions of the vacuum window. This innovation allows user to position high quality optics near their sample without any intervening windows.

The system uses a 100X Zeiss quality objective with a working distance of 310 microns and a numerical aperture of 0.9, and can be outfitted with almost any vacuum compatible microscope objective.

A previous barrier to putting high quality objectives in the vacuum space of a low temperature system is that as a lens cools, its individual optical elements change shape, the optical performance degrades, and the lens may even crack. In order to prevent this damaging distortion, and to preserve the optical quality, a patent pending design maintains the lens at room temperature. By mounting the objective inside the temperature stabilized sample chamber, once the system reaches the target temperature, any drift due to temperature changes is eliminated.

The Cryostation has become a reliable workhorse for the low temperature research community. As a closed cycle cryostat, it doesn’t require costly helium for cooling, but uses a reliable refrigeration cycle cryocooler. The system is best known for its low vibrations of less than 5nm and its rock solid temperature stability of less than 10mK. Researchers appreciate the ease of access to their samples under test, both for setup and for optical access.

Pioneers in the world of cold science automation, Montana Instruments designs, manufactures, and supports cryostat systems around the world. Visit the company’s website at www.montanainstruments.com.

For more information, contact:
Brian Smithgall
(406) 551-2796
(406) 551-2797 fax

Via EPR Network
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