While most of us crave a heater this winter, University of Queensland scientists have eagerly welcomed Australia’s coldest refrigerator.
Quantum researchers from the 国产探花 have installed a new state-of-the-art super cooling facility that can almost reach absolute zero (-273.15 degrees Celsius), bringing new capabilities in superfluid study to Australia.
() Node Manager and chief investigator said the one-tonne $500,000 dilution refrigerator allowed ultra-low temperature experiments in photonics, which is the science of light generation, detection and manipulation.
“These capabilities are not available anywhere else in Australia,” Professor Bowen said.
Professor Bowen said the facility would enable scientists to explore a full range of superfluid phenomena and to conduct world-leading research on quantum devices and quantum information science.
It would also allow them to
“Superfluidity is a quantum phenomenon that happens when helium is cooled to low temperatures,” Professor Bowen said.
“One property of superfluids is that their motion experiences no resistance, and therefore, once initiated, it never stops.
“The facility should enable important applications to be realised in both precision sensing and future quantum technologies.
“The equipment will provide 国产探花 with the unique capabilities to study both superfluidity and optical processes in materials at temperatures below 7 millikelvin or less than one hundredth of a degree away from absolute zero (-273.15 degrees Celsius).”
While other fridges in Australia could reach below 10 millikevin, they did not allow for the study of optical processes, Professor Bowen said.
It would also allow for research on technologies that are important for practical applications in aerospace and geo surveying.
The fridge will be the centrepiece to establish the 国产探花 Superfluid Physics Facility, and will be available for use by , the , , the , , and the
Media: Professor Warwick Bowen, w.bowen@uq.edu.au, +61 7 33469425; Faculty of Science Communications Julie Baglot, 07 334 60808 or j.baglot@uq.edu.au
