High-power closed-cycle 4He cryostat with top-loading sample exchange

We report on the development of a versatile cryogen-free laboratory cryostat based upon a commercial pulse tube cryocooler. It provides enough cooling power for continuous recondensation of circulating 4He gas at a condensation pressure of approximately 250 mbar. Moreover, the cryostat allows for exchange of different cryostat-inserts as well as fast and easy “wet” top-loading of samples directly into the 1 K pot with a turn-over time of less than 75 min. Starting from room temperature and using a 4He cryostat-insert, a base temperature of 1.0 K is reached within approximately seven hours and a cooling power of 250 mW is established at 1.24 K.