초록 ▼

An improved X-ray spectrometer detector system includes a mechanical cooling system with a compressor connected by supply and return lines to a cryocooler connected to an X-ray dispersive spectrometer detector for an electron microscope. Within a housing containing a cryocooler heat exchanger, a hea

An improved X-ray spectrometer detector system includes a mechanical cooling system with a compressor connected by supply and return lines to a cryocooler connected to an X-ray dispersive spectrometer detector for an electron microscope. Within a housing containing a cryocooler heat exchanger, a heat sink thermal mass is thermally connected to a cold finger heat conducting structure which has the X-ray detector mounted at its distal end. The housing insulates the cryocooler heat exchanger and the heat sink from the external ambient. The compressor unit is operated to cool the detector to a desired low operating temperature at which precision measurements may be made. When such measurements are to be made, the compressor is turned off to minimize vibrations that could interfere with X-ray detector measurements or the operation of the electron microscope. The total heat capacity of the thermal mass of the heat sink is sufficient to cause the temperature of the detector to increase gradually while the compressor is turned off to allow a long period of time during which precision measurements may be made without any mechanical vibrations being introduced into the system from active refrigeration. When a temperature of the detector exceeds a higher threshold temperature, the compressor may automatically be turned back on to cool the detector down again to its desired operating range.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An improved cryogenically cooled X-ray spectrometer detector of the type having a cold finger heat conducting structure with an X-ray detector at a distal end and a proximal end which is to be cooled, the cold finger heat conducting structure providing a thermal path from

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An improved cryogenically cooled X-ray spectrometer detector of the type having a cold finger heat conducting structure with an X-ray detector at a distal end and a proximal end which is to be cooled, the cold finger heat conducting structure providing a thermal path from its distal end to its proximal end, a heat exchanger cold tip of a mechanical cooler in thermal communication with the proximal end of the cold finger heat conducting structure, and a housing surrounding the heat exchanger cold tip and the proximal end of the cold finger heat conducting structure, the improvement comprising:a heat sink formed of a thermal mass of good heat conducting solid material which is thermally connected to the cold finger heat conducting structure, the heat sink mounted within the enclosure containing the heat exchanger cold tip and the proximal end of the cold finger heat conducting structure, the thermal mass of the heat sink having a total heat capacity at least as great as the total heat capacity of the cold finger heat conducting structure, the heat sink being cooled by the mechanical cooler heat exchanger when it is operative to a temperature below the temperature of the distal end of the cold finger heat conducting structure so as to conduct heat from the cold finger heat conducting structure to the heat sink when the mechanical cooler heat exchanger is not operative.