CryoLab is a specialized research facility within the Department of Mechanics and Electronics dedicated to the development, characterization, and validation of cryogenic integrated circuits (CryoCMOS) and spintronic devices. The laboratory supports research on next-generation computing and sensing technologies operating at cryogenic temperatures, enabling the investigation of device behaviour, circuit performance, and system reliability under extreme operating conditions.
base temperature
while probing
room temperature
upper limit
One temperature sweep, more than 795 kelvin of range – measured in a single high-vacuum environment.
Research Focus
Design and characterization of analog, mixed-signal, and digital integrated circuits operating at cryogenic temperatures.
Electrical and high-frequency characterization of STNOs, MRAM, AMR, and other spintronic technologies.
Investigation of semiconductor and magnetic device behaviour from room temperature down to below 4 K.
Development and evaluation of electronic interfaces for future quantum and cryogenic computing systems.
High-precision electrical and RF measurements under high-vacuum cryogenic environments.
CryoLab is equipped with advanced cryogenic measurement infrastructure that enables comprehensive electrical and RF characterization of semiconductor devices and integrated circuits over a temperature range extending from below 4 K to 800 K.
ARS PS-CC Closed-Cycle Cryogenic Probe Station
The laboratory features an Advanced Research Systems (ARS) PS-CC Closed-Cycle Cryogenic Probe Station, providing a high-vacuum environment for reliable low-temperature measurements.
Stable operation from below 4 K up to 800 K.
Minimizes contamination and ensures repeatable measurements.
Optimized cryocooler orientation achieves base temperatures of 3.5–4 K with excellent thermal stability.
Multi-stage probe cooling minimizes thermal loading, allowing sample temperatures below 4.5 K even while probing.
Spintronics Measurement Setup
The CryoLab measurement platform is optimized for precision characterization of spintronic devices and cryogenic integrated circuits. Four elements work together to keep the signal clean at 4 K.
A precision anti-vibration table suppresses mechanical disturbances and thermal drift, ensuring stable probing with 7 µm DC probe tips and 150 µm-pitch RF probes.
The electromagnetically shielded enclosure minimizes interference, improving signal integrity for sensitive low-noise electrical and RF measurements.
Accommodates wafers up to 200 mm (8 inches) with precision positioning through a rigid mechanical platform and high-resolution micrometer stages.
Keithley 2450 SourceMeter units for automated current–voltage measurements, a spectrum analyzer for high-frequency characterization of STNOs, MRAM arrays and AMR sensors, and a Python-based automation framework for repeatable workflows.