A hybrid liquid nitrogen system for the cooling of the ESO OmegaCAM detector
2010
OmegaCAM is a wide field camera housing a mosaic of 32 CCD detectors. For the optimal trade-off between dark
current, sensitivity, and cosmetics, these detectors need to be operated at a temperature of about 155 K. The detectors
mosaic with a total area of 630 cm 2 directly facing the Dewar entrance window, is exposed to a considerable radiation
heat load. This can only be achieved with a very performing cooling system.
The paper describes the cooling system, which is build such that it makes the most efficient use of the cooling power of
the liquid nitrogen. This is obtained by forcing the nitrogen through a series of well designed and strategically distributed
heat exchangers.
Results and performance of the system recorded during the laboratory system testing are reported as well. In addition to
the cryogenic performance, the document reports also about the overall performance of the instrument including long
term vacuum behavior.
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