With many of its magnets operating at temperatures colder than outer space, the LHC is the largest cryogenic system in the world and one of the coldest places on Earth. For more than 50 years, CERN’s unique cryogenic facilities – also known as Cryolab – have provided expertise and R&D opportunities at low temperatures.

In these installations able to go from 100 Kelvin (-173°C) down to the milliKelvin temperature range, the aerospace sector has the opportunity to design, test and ensure the safety of its equipment as well as study superconducting systems in cryogenic conditions.

Its testing capabilities range from direct bath cooling techniques to thermal cycling in the respective liquid or under vacuum conditions, and cryogen-free refrigeration. Significant expertise has been developed in material characterisation to measure interface resistances, residual resistivity ratio, thermal contraction, conductivity and diffusivity data.

Learn more about CERN ground facilities here.