Practical cryogenics. And introduction to laboratory cryogenics

This booklet has been written to help you to learn more about the basic principles of cryogenics, so that you can design your experiments to make the best possible use of your system. A little training often makes the difference between success and failure for a low temperature experiment. The booklet is a collection of practical notes to introduce beginners to the fundamentals of good practice. It contains a 'glossary of terms' to explain some of the jargon commonly used in cryogenics. The descriptions are intended to translate these terms into plain English so that beginners can understand them. The other sections give general advice on a range of relevant topics. A strong emphasis is placed on practical information rather than theoretical details. Previous editions of this booklet (then called Elementary Practical Cryogenics) contained some of this information. Several small errors have been corrected and more information has been added. The subject of 'safety' has deliberately been omitted. All cryogens are potentially hazardous. Before you try to use a cryogenic or high magnetic field system you should receive training from a competent person who knows your laboratory and the laws in your country. You may then like to use the booklet Safety Matters (available from Oxford Instruments) to remind you about this training when you are using a system