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Author here. Looks like this page got quite a bit of attention—and unfortunately our server couldn’t handle the load. I’m here to answer any questions while you

Author here. Looks like this page got quite a bit of attention—and unfortunately our server couldn’t handle the load. I’m here to answer any questions while you wait for our website to respond!

mordechai9000 5y ago
Dumb question, since I haven't read the article. What constitutes cryogenic temperatures? I worked for a telecom that deployed a lot of equipment at high latitude, in places where temperatures could reach -40 or colder. It wasn't my department, but I had the impression that we weren't really paying too much attention to the lower end of the operating range specified by manufacturers. I recall seeing "ice in the feed horn" as a root cause more than once.
- detaro 5y ago
  A common definition of cryogenic is "below 120K/-153°C", or more general temperatures where "simple" gasses like oxygen/nitrogen/... become liquids.
  - onelectrontech 5y ago
    That sounds reasonable. I didn't have a specific range in mind, other than "significantly below the minimum specified operating temperature of conventional electronics". The article was mostly focused on space applications, so 120K seems like a good upper bound for extreme cold in these ranges.
dvh 5y ago
Is the answer "no"?
- onelectrontech 5y ago
  It depends--This doesn't feel like a very satisfying answer, but certain devices have been shown to perform better at extreme low temperatures (up to a point). However, there is the ever-present issue of reliability. For instance, certain CMOS devices exhibit improved switching characteristics, but the increased hot carrier mobility can cause degraded reliability, so certain design trade-offs have to be made. Of course, many COTS components specify much higher minimum operating temperatures in their datasheets, so thoroughly characterizing these components is vital for high-reliability operation in cryogenic conditions.
onelectrontech 5y ago
Update: the site should be back up now. Looks like our CMS had some issues dealing with the increased traffic. We made a few configuration changes so hopefully things will be more stable now.

Author here. Looks like this page got quite a bit of attention—and unfortunately our server couldn’t handle the load. I’m here to answer any questions while you wait for our website to respond!

mordechai9000 5y ago

Dumb question, since I haven't read the article. What constitutes cryogenic temperatures? I worked for a telecom that deployed a lot of equipment at high latitude, in places where temperatures could reach -40 or colder. It wasn't my department, but I had the impression that we weren't really paying too much attention to the lower end of the operating range specified by manufacturers. I recall seeing "ice in the feed horn" as a root cause more than once.

detaro 5y ago
A common definition of cryogenic is "below 120K/-153°C", or more general temperatures where "simple" gasses like oxygen/nitrogen/... become liquids.
- onelectrontech 5y ago
  That sounds reasonable. I didn't have a specific range in mind, other than "significantly below the minimum specified operating temperature of conventional electronics". The article was mostly focused on space applications, so 120K seems like a good upper bound for extreme cold in these ranges.

dvh 5y ago

Is the answer "no"?

onelectrontech 5y ago
It depends--This doesn't feel like a very satisfying answer, but certain devices have been shown to perform better at extreme low temperatures (up to a point). However, there is the ever-present issue of reliability. For instance, certain CMOS devices exhibit improved switching characteristics, but the increased hot carrier mobility can cause degraded reliability, so certain design trade-offs have to be made. Of course, many COTS components specify much higher minimum operating temperatures in their datasheets, so thoroughly characterizing these components is vital for high-reliability operation in cryogenic conditions.

onelectrontech 5y ago

Update: the site should be back up now. Looks like our CMS had some issues dealing with the increased traffic. We made a few configuration changes so hopefully things will be more stable now.