The Los Alamos Solid-State Optical Refrigerator (LASSOR) Program

Recent work at Los Alamos National Laboratory has demonstrated the physical principles for a new type of solid-state cryocooler based on anti-Stokes fluorescence¹. From our laboratory work and computer simulations we estimate that a practical, first-generation, all-solid-state fluorescent cryocooler will have the following properties²:

• no vibrations
• will not produce and is not susceptible to electromagnetic interference
• cool to 77 K
• be ∼1% efficient (DC power to cooling power)
• weigh less than 3 kg/Watt
• have a lifetime of 10 years continuous operation.

This first-generation cryocooler will employ material with demonstrated fluorescent cooling capability (ytterbium doped ZBLANP). In this paper we will present the current status of our work and the current prototype design and component descriptions.