A central aim of nanoscience experiments is reaching the regime where quantum phenomena begin to govern the behaviour of the system. This promises to allow new generations of properties and devices just as conventional microcircuits are running up against the physical limits of further miniaturization. While quantum behaviour can be observed in very small samples at relatively high temperatures, it becomes much more apparent as the temperature is lowered. The expense of microkelvin facilities has hitherto been a deterrent to making nanoscience experiments in this temperature regime.

Objectives of Microkelvin

• To integrate and upgrade the leading microkelvin facilities in Europe.
• To assemble a critical mass to work effectively on large scale issues and provide access to a wider range of European users.
• To create new capability by exploiting the combined microkelvin capacity of these facilities for new areas of physics, especially nanophysics.
• To enhance the capacities of the access-giving facilities.
• To network the members of the low temperature and related research communities, the scientists with cryoengineers and the end-users with access providers, to facilitate cross-disciplinary sharing of knowledge.
• To disseminate the expertise of the core institutes to the wider community by the development of compact, user-friendly, refrigerators for microkelvin research in low infrastructure environments.
• To foster the development of the next generation of refrigerators and instruments for ultralow temperature measurements.
• To develop strategies and tools for the long-term building of a virtual European Ultralow Temperature Laboratory.