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.

Lowest cost of ownership - Helium cost calculator
Unique sample exchange mechanisms
Market leading vibration and stability options
Touch screen controllers with unique expansion capabilities
User upgradeable windows and controller channels

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

Specifications

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

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

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

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

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

Optistat Model Comparison

Model	OptistatDN-X	OptistatDN-V	OptistatCF-X	OptistatCF-V	OptistatDry TLEX	OptistatDry BLV
Cryogen	Nitrogen	Nitrogen	Helium (or Nitrogen)	Helium (or Nitrogen)	Cryofree™	Cryofree™
Sample Environment	Exchange Gas	Vacuum	Exchange Gas	Vacuum	Exchange Gas	Vacuum
Base temperature	77.2 K	77.2 K	3.4 K	3.2 K	6.5 (4 windows)	6.5 (4 windows)
Minimum temperature	77.2 K	77.2 K	2.3 K^***	2.2 K^***	<4 K (blanks fitted)	<3 K (blanks fitted)
Maximum temperature	300K (500 K^*)	500 K	300K (500 K^*)	500 K	300 K	300 K
Temperature stability (period)	±0.1 K (10 mins)	±0.1 K (10 mins)	±0.1 K (10 mins)	±0.1 K (10 mins)	±0.1 K (10 mins)	±0.1 K (10 mins)
Maximum sample space	20 mm Ø	20 mm Ø	20 mm Ø	30 mm x 58 mm	20 mm Ø	40 mm x 50 mm
Sample holder dims	19 mm x 30 mm	20 mm x 50 mm	19 mm x 30 mm	20 mm x 50 mm	19 mm x 30 mm	20 mm x 50 mm
Cooldown from room temperature	20 mins	20 mins	10 mins	10 mins	6 hrs	<2.5 hrs (LX20), <3 hrs (DC12)
Vibration	n/a	n/a	<0.1 µm RMS^**	<0.1 µm RMS^**	<10 µm RMS^**	<10 µm RMS^**
Customer wiring	10 DC	10 DC	10 DC	10 DC	10 DC	20 DC (LX20), 12 DC (DC12)
Learn More	Specifications	Specifications	Specifications	Specifications	Specifications	Specifications
Contact Us	Pricing	Pricing	Pricing	Pricing	Pricing	Pricing

* 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

Touchscreen interface
High precision of 0.1 mK (24 bit A to D resolution).
Heater output up to 80 W per channel, for faster temperature ramping
Supports all standard cryogenic temperature sensors
Unique upgradeability - expansion slots for sensor, heater and controller cards.
Plug and play cards to upgrade and expand functionality.

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.

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.

Website by Miramar Communications Ltd