Technical noteProgress on a novel VM-type pulse tube cryocooler for 4 K

•A new type pulse tube cryocooler driven by the thermal-compressor was experimentally studied.•A minimum no-load temperature 4.9 K was obtained, and the cooling power was 30 mW@5.6 K.•The multi-bypass was firstly used in the low-frequency Stirling type pulse tube cryocooler.•The calculated total input power was no more than 450 W.

VM type pulse tube cryocooler is a new type pulse tube cryocooler driven by the thermal-compressor. This paper presented the recent experimental results on a novel single-stage VM type pulse tube cryocooler with multi-bypass. The low temperature double-inlet, orifice and gas reservoir, and multi-bypass were used as phase shifters. With the optimal operating frequency of 1.6 Hz and optimal average pressure of 1.4 MPa, a no-load temperature of 4.9 K has been obtained and 30 mW@5.6 K cooling power has been achieved. It was the first time for the single-stage VM-PTC obtaining liquid helium temperature reported so far. Moreover, it was also the first time for the multi-bypass being used in the low-frequency Stirling type pulse tube cryocooler.