Laser-Powered Thermoelectric Generators Operating at Cryogenic Temperatures

Authors

S. R. Harutyunyan, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia
V. H. Vardanyan, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia
A. S. Kuzanyan, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia
V. R. Nikoghosyan, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia
S. Kunii, Tohoku University
K. Winzer, University of Goettingen
K. S. Wood, Naval Research Laboratory
Armen Gulian, Chapman UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-4-2005

Abstract

A thermoelectric generator, operating in a cryostat at liquid helium temperatures, is described. Energy to the generator is supplied via an external laser beam. For this prototype device the associated heat load at permanent operation is comparable with the heat load associated with power delivery via metallic wires. Estimates indicate that still better performance can be enabled with existing thermoelectric materials, thereby far exceeding efficiency of traditional cryostat wiring. We used a prototype generator to produce electric power for measuring critical currents in Nb₃Sn-films at 4K.

Comments

This article was originally published in Applied Physics Letters, volume 87, issue 19, in 2005. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2131202

Recommended Citation

Harutyunyan S.R., Vardanyan V.H., Kuzanyan A.S., Nikoghosyan V.R., Kunii S., Winzer K., Wood K.S., and Gulian A.M., Laser-powered thermoelectric generators operating at cryogenic temperatures. Appl. Phys. Lett., 2005, vol. 87, No. 19, art. 194114. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2131202

Peer Reviewed

1

Copyright

American Institute of Physics