Importance

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Abstract

A cryogenic cooling system is provided having a vessel, the vessel comprising extending along a longitudinal axis and configured to receive a sample probe movable along the longitudinal axis. One or more cooling members are thermally coupled to the vessel so as to produce a thermal gradient along the longitudinal axis of the vessel. A vent extends along the outside of the vessel and is configured to provide a pathway for a flow of gas from an inlet of the vent to an outlet of the vent. The inlet is in gaseous communication with the inside of the vessel and the outlet is in gaseous communication an environment external to the vessel. The inlet is arranged at a position along the vessel configured to obtain a temperature below 63 kelvin during operation of the one or more cooling members, and the outlet is arranged at a position configured to maintain a temperature above 273 kelvin when the outlet has a temperature below 63 kelvin. The vent further comprises a pressure relief element configured to open and close said pathway in dependence on the pressure within the vessel such that, when the pressure of a gas inside the vessel exceeds a safety threshold, the pressure relief element is opened so as to enable a flow of said gas from the inside of the vessel to the environment external to the vessel.

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First Claim