Project Info

Cryogenic thermal conductivity measurements

This project is focused on measurements of thermal conductivity below 1K on a specialized stage developed at the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies at Sandia National Laboratories. Thermal conductivity measurements at these temperatures are particularly challenging because thermal conductivity of most materials is very small and thermometry is difficult. Specialized thermometry and low-noise measurement techniques that we have developed in our laboratory, along with the stage mentioned before which enables thermal isolation of the sample will make these measurements possible.

More Information

This is a paper about the suspended platform enabling thermal conductivity measurements: https://aip.scitation.org/doi/abs/10.1063/1.3078025

Grand Engineering Challenge: Engineer the tools of scientific discovery

Student Preparation

Qualifications

1. clean room experience a plus
2. thin-film deposition
3. thin-film characterization a plus

Time Commitment

5 hours/week

Skills/Techniques Gained

1. cryogenics
2. DC and AC electronic transport measurement
3. thermal measurement experience
4. data acquisition with python
5. data analysis

Mentoring Plan

1. Individual meetings every week to discuss technical difficulties
2. Time in the lab spent with mentor to be trained on equipment
3. Time in the lab with senior graduate student to be trained on equipment and techniques
4. Group meetings every other week to discuss findings with broader group