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Optical Cryostats for Spectroscopy

Andor's Optistat range of optical cryostats provide cryogenic sample environments with a variety of design and performance characteristics. Available with liquid Nitrogen (LN2), liquid Helium and Cryofree™ technologies, sample in vacuum and sample in exchange gas systems, with sample temperatures from <2.3K to 500K. The Optistat range offers some of the most efficient and cost effective cryostats for Optical Spectroscopy, ideally suited to optical table based experiments or integration with 3rd party spectrometers. We also offer a range of optical cryostats for microscopy.

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Optistat Solutions - DN, CF, Dry BLV & Dry TLEX

OptistatDN-V

  • Nitrogen Bath Cryostat
  • Sample in Vacuum
  • 20 mm sample holder
  • Solids, powder pellets
  • 77 K - 500 K
  • Low Running Cost
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OptistatDN-X

  • Nitrogen Bath Cryostat
  • Sample in Exchange Gas
  • 20 mm sample tube
  • Solids, powder & liquids
  • 77 K - 300 K (500 K*)
  • Low Running Cost
Specifications Request Pricing

OptistatCF-V

  • Helium flow cryostat
  • Sample in Vacuum
  • 30 x 58 mm vacuum sample space
  • Solids, powder pellets
  • 2.3 K - 500 K
  • 10 mins cooldown
Specifications Request Pricing

OptistatCF-X

  • Helium flow cryostat
  • Sample in Exchange Gas
  • 20 mm sample tube
  • Solids, powder & liquids
  • 2.3 K - 500 K
  • 25 min cooldown
Specifications Request Pricing

OptistatDry BLV

  • CryoFree™ operation
  • Sample in Vacuum
  • Air or water cooled compressor
  • 40 mm x 50 mm vacuum sample space
  • <3 K - 300 K (6 K*)
  • <150 mins cooldown
Specifications Request Pricing

OptistatDry TLEX

  • CryoFree™ operation
  • Sample in Exchange Gas
  • Air or water cooled compressor
  • 20 mm sample tube
  • 6.5 K - 300 K
  • <6 hrs initial cooldown
Specifications Request Pricing

Optistat Model Comparison

* With HT windows fitted
** Typical, in conjunction with local vibration mitigation practices
*** With 40m3 rotary pump option

Optistat Applications

Raman Scattering

Raman Scattering or the Raman effect is the inelastic scattering of a photon by molecules which are excited to higher vibrational or rotational energy levels. The Optistat range allows for analysis of a wide range of materials, including gases, liquids, and solids. 

Highly complex materials such as biological organisms and human tissue can also be analysed by Raman spectroscopy using the sample-in-exchange gas models and range of sample holders.

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Photoluminescence

Photoluminescence (PL) is commonly used for investigating semiconductors that can be studied at room temperature. At low temperatures, spectral lines are sharper and more intense, revealing more structure. 

The wide range of temperatures offered by the Optistat range allow for the detection of excitations normally masked by the high thermal phonon background at room temperature.

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Ultraviolet–Visible Spectroscopy

Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy or UV/VIS refers to absorption spectroscopy or reflectance spectroscopy in the ultraviolet-visible spectral region. 

Optistat systems are available with a wide range of window materials, including SpectrosilB/WF for UV/Vis wavelengths.

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Infrared/FTIR/THz

Infrared and Terahertz spectroscopy, widely used for polymer research, inorganic chemistry, pharma or drug related research, as well as solid state and semiconductor physics, can be studied with the use of CaF2, ZnSe or TPX windows fitted to the Optistat range of cryostats.

Since the Optistat windows are user-changeable, this allows for a great level of versatility across a wide range of transmission wavelengths.

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Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Fluorescence spectroscopy, a type of electromagnetic spectroscopy that analyses fluorescence from a sample, is a popular application for the OptistatDN/CF range. 

With the fast sample change in the sample-in-exchange gas cryostats, they can be used in Physics, biochemical, medical, and chemical research fields for analysing organic compounds. Many companies also offer compartment adaptors for their spectrometers to interface with the Optistat range of cryostats.

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Photoreflectance

Photoreflectance (PR) is a very sensitive optical probe method on the electronic structure of semiconductors, especially for the band-edge structure and discrete level in the bang gap. 

Through a modulated pumping by laser, the reflectance signal of the sample responds sharply on critical points around the band edge and in the band gap. The use of an Optistat cryostat for additional temperature evolution can allow for the extraction of more supplementary information such as ionization energy.

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Mercury iTC - Intelligent Temperature Controller

The Oxford Instruments Mercury iTC temperature controller is designed specifically for the control of cryogenic sample environments. With programmable software and expandible hardware the Mercury iTC can be configured to control and monitor multiple sensors, heaters, stepper motors and pressure gauges simultaneously. The ultimate in configurable cryogenic controllers designed specifically for the Andor range of cryostats.

Features:

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Windows for Optistat Cryostats

Andor cryostats are supplied with Spectrosil B windows as standard providing good transmission from UV to mid-IR wavelengths.

In addition we can supply a range of window materials to suit applications from UV through the extreme IR and THz wavelengths.

All windows are user-changeable and allow you to configure your experiment with the best transmission characteristics for each of the available optical ports.

View our Optical Cryostats Windows Tool for more.

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Unique Sample Exchange and Alignment

The OptistatDryBLV Cryofree® is equipped with a unique side-loading access port. When used in conjunction with the removeable sample pucks and the low vibration stand, this allows samples to be exchanged easily without the need to realign your experimental optics or move your cryostat.

Sample holders are available for transmission or reflection with the option of a 20-pin wired connector above the sample position or 12 sprung PCB connections for dc electrical signals in/out.

Changing samples and making/breaking electrical connections without disturbing your optical alignment could not be simpler.

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