LiteBIRD is a JAXA-led international project that aims to test representative inflationary models by performing an allsky cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB) polarization survey for 3 years at the Sun-Earth Lagrangian point L2. We aim to launch LiteBIRD in the late 2020s. The payload module (PLM) is mainly composed of the Low-Frequency Telescope (LFT), the Mid-Frequency Telescope and High-Frequency Telescope (MHFT), and a cryo-structure. To conduct the high-precision and high-sensitivity CMB observations, it is required to cool the telescopes down to less than 5 K and the detectors down to 100 mK. The high temperature stability is also an important design factor. It is essential to design and analyze the cryogenic thermal system for PLM. In this study, the heat balance, temperature distribution, and temperature stability of the PLM for the baseline design are evaluated by developing the transient thermal model. The effect of the Joule-Thomson (JT) coolers cold tip temperature variation, the periodical changes in subK Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator (ADR) heat dissipation, and the satellite spin that generates the variable direction of solar flux incident are implemented in the model. The effect of contact thermal conductance in the LFT and the emissivity of the V-groove on the temperature distribution and heat balance are investigated. Based on the thermal analysis, it was confirmed that the PLM baseline design meets the requirement of the temperature and the cooling capability of the 4K-JT cooler. In addition, the temperatures of the V-groove and the LFT 5-K frame are sufficiently stable for the observation. The temperature stability of the Low Frequency Focal Plane (LF-FP) is also discussed in this paper.
The Space Infrared Telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics (SPICA) mission is to be launched into orbit around the second Lagrangian point (L2) in the Sun-Earth system. Taking advantage of the thermal environment in L2, a 2.5m-class large IR telescope is cooled below 8K in combination with effective radiant cooling and a mechanical cooling system. SPICA adopts a cryogen-free system to prevent the mission operation lifetime being limited by the amount of cryogen as a refrigerant. Currently, the mechanical cooler system with the feasible solution giving a proper margin is proposed. As a baseline design, 4K / 1K-class Joule-Thomson coolers are used to cool the telescope and thermal interface for Focal Plane Instruments (FPIs). Additionally, two sets of double stage stirling coolers (2STs) are used to cool the telescope shield. In this design, nominal operation of FPIs can be kept when one mechanical cooler is in failure. In this paper, current baseline configuration of the mechanical cooler system and current status of mechanical coolers developments which need to satisfy the specific requirements of SPICA cryogenic system are presented.
We present an overview of the cryogenic system of the next-generation infrared observatory mission SPICA. One of the most critical requirements for the SPICA mission is to cool the whole science equipment, including the 2.5 m telescope, to below 8 K to reduce the thermal background and enable unprecedented sensitivity in the mid- and far-infrared region. Another requirement is to cool focal plane instruments to achieve superior sensitivity. We adopt the combination of effective radiative cooling and mechanical cryocoolers to accomplish the thermal requirements for SPICA. The radiative cooling system, which consists of a series of radiative shields, is designed to accommodate the telescope in the vertical configuration. We present thermal model analysis results that comply with the requirements to cool the telescope and focal plane instruments.
We present an overview of the thermal and mechanical design of the Payload Module (PLM) of the next- generation infrared astronomy mission Space Infrared Telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics (SPICA). The primary design goal of PLM is to cool the whole science assembly including a 2.5 m telescope and focal-plane instruments below 8 K. SPICA is thereby expected to have very low background conditions so that it can achieve unprecedented sensitivity in the mid- and far-infrared. PLM also provides the instruments with the 4.8 K and 1.8 K stages to cool their detectors. The SPICA cryogenic system combines passive, effective radiative cooling by multiple thermal shields and active cooling by a series of mechanical cryocoolers. The mechanical cryocoolers are required to provide 40 mW cooling power at 4.8 K and 10 mW at 1.8 K at End-of-Life (EoL). End-to-end performance of the SPICA cryocooler-chain from 300 K to 50 mK was demonstrated under the framework of the ESA CryoChain Core Technology Program (CC-CTP). In this paper, we focus on the recent progress of the thermal and mechanical design of SPICA PLM which is based on the SPICA mission proposal to ESA.
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