Practical thermometry and thermalization at sub-1 K temperatures using commercial surface-mount components

• We have studied experimentally the properties of commercial SMD resistors and capacitors at sub-1 K temperatures.
• Certain SMD components can be used as thermometers and electrically isolated heat conductors.
• We present a simple analog resistance-to-voltage converter circuit with low excitation power.

Thermometry and heat sinking are important aspects of cryogenic engineering. We have carried out experiments to determine the usefulness of commercial surface-mount resistors, resistor arrays and capacitors as temperature sensors and electrically isolated heat conductors. Our investigations were motivated by the need for easy thermal diagnostics and management of heat dissipation in experimental setups operating at sub-kelvin temperatures in dilution refrigerators. In this work we also present a simple and robust resistance-to-voltage converter circuit with low excitation power.