Prior Information Notice — Closed-cycle Cryostat

Descriptions

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) requirement is for a new system for metrology of single-photon emitters. This system should have a closed cycle or ‘cryogen free’, operation to allow sample temperatures of between 4 K and 300 K to be reached and stably maintained. The system needs to permit high numerical aperture objective lenses (N.A > 0.7) to focus on the sample. It should allow for operation at wavelengths ranging from the visible (500 nm) to the telecom C-band (1 550 nm). Exchanging optics for regions within this range should be straightforward for the user to do. There should be < 20 nm (peak to peak) of vibration between the sample and any external optics. Positioners are to be included to translate the sample around the focus of the objective lens, within a volume of 5 mm x 5 mm x 5 mm. These should have a minimum step size of < 20 nm. It should be possible to upgrade and customise the system at a later date should extra capabilities be needed. All temperature and sam