X-ray Lithography Fabricated Microchannel Regenerators for Cryocoolers

NASA, Air Force, Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and DoD repeatedly express the need for long-life, low maintenance space cryocoolers. Two types of cryocoolers that meet these requirements are the pulse tube and the Stirling coolers. One of the major factors limiting the efficiency of these coolers is the regenerator. Improving the regenerator performance would substantially increase the efficiency and thus reduce the power required to operate these coolers.