Improvement of micro-vibration of a two-stage Stirling cryocooler

摘要

Two-stage Stirling cryocoolers (2ST cooler) produced by Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. have been launched into orbit on three satellites: the "AKARI (ASTRO-F)" infrared astronomical satellite, JEM/SMILES on ISS, and the "HITOMI (ASTRO-H)" X-ray astronomical satellite. A 2ST cooler compressor has a linear-ball-bearing system as a piston-supporting structure. The linear ball bearing system is a key components to realize a lower drive frequency (15 Hz), a long piston stroke (30 mm). Its typical cooling power is 200 mW at 20 K for the second stage and 1000 mW at 100 K for the first stage, with 90 W electrical input power.