Abstract: A method for measuring temperature T over a wide range by exploiting a tunnel junction, in which the tunnel junction includes two metallic conductors and a thin insulating layer between the conductors. The resistance R of the insulating layer is measured over the linear section of the voltage-current curve and the temperature T is determined from the equation: 1 R = 1 R 0 ⁢ ( 1 + ( T T 0 ) 2 ) , in which R0 is a previously calibrated constant and T0 is a material constant.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a tunnel junction component, in which a mask is formed on the surface of a substrate, and conductors are constructed by evaporation onto the substrate in an evaporation chamber, and at least one thin oxide layer element is oxidized on top of a selected conductor. This remains partly under the following conductor, thus forming a tunnel junction element with those conductors and titanium (Ti) or another gettering substance is evaporated on top of the said following conductor, before the tunnel junction component is removed from the evaporation chamber, when the titanium layer thus created protects the tunnel junction element from the detrimental effects of air molecules.

Abstract: A micro refrigerator includes two NIS, normal metal/insulator/superconductor tunnel junction refrigerators formed on a substrate connected in series in a SINIS structure, with a common normal metal element connected therebetween and the superconducting elements outside. The refrigerator includes an insulating membrane thermally isolated from the substrate, and the common normal metal element includes a protrusion extending to the insulating membrane, which refrigerates the insulating membrane and an object placed on the insulating membrane.

Abstract: A thermometer based on CB tunnelling includes a sensor component and devices for measuring its voltage-current dependence. The sensor includes a chain of several, at least ten, nanoscale tunnel junctions and connection electrodes for connecting the measurement devices to the ends of the chain. The temperature is determined in a manner that is, as such, known, on the basis of the characteristic quantities of the descriptor G/G.sub.T of the voltage-current dependence. The measurement array of the sensor includes several tunnel junction chains connected in parallel, for decreasing the total impedance of the array.

Abstract: Dilution refrigerator equipment, which includes a vacuum vessel with its connections, a dilution refrigerator, made essentially completely of plastic set inside it and supported from a metallic pumping tube, includes an upper still and a lower mixing chamber and a heat exchanger connecting them. The pumping tube is connected to the still of the dilution refrigerator. The tube connection of the still includes an intermediate piece, separating the metallic pumping tube from the plastic structure of the still, which is made from a mixture of plastic and metal powder, to accommodate the greatly deviating thermal expansions of the connection components to one another.