Rigid, Insulating Support for Cryogenic Component

A structure provides rigid support for a cryogenic component but transmits minimal heat. The structure includes two beams of Invar (or equivalent low-thermal expansion iron/nickel alloy) that are held in alignment, without touching each other, by pretensioned strands of KevIar® (or equivalent) aromatic polyamide. The strands have a small cross section, low thermal conductivity, high stiffness, and high tensile strength.