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Physical Property Measurement System - PPMS

The DynaCool PPMS (Physical Property Measurement System) is a versatile cryogenic materials analysis platform that enables the determination of the fundamental electrical, magnetic, and thermal properties of samples under controlled temperature and magnetic field conditions.

The sample is placed in a selected environment and subjected to various stimuli (electric current, thermal gradient, magnetic field). Unlike most room-temperature analytical methods, DynaCool relies on the automated and simultaneous control of temperature and an intense superconducting magnetic field to measure the material’s thermodynamic response and transport phenomena.

The technique is non-destructive, highly automated, and—thanks to its interchangeable (“plug-and-play”) measurement modules—can serve as a comprehensive tool for characterizing phase transitions (superconductivity, magnetism) and quantum states of matter.

Our PPMS equipment: DynaCool Quantum Design

To know the rates and have access to our EPR instrument, please contact us by email:

Technical Specifications

Available options:

Standard operating conditions: Temperature range from 1.8 K to 400 K; magnetic field up to 9 T (without the need for liquid cryogens).

DC Resistance: Measurements of electrical resistivity using direct current (up to MW).

Thermal Transport Option (TTO): Simultaneous measurement of thermal conductivity, the Seebeck coefficient, and electrical resistivity to determine the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT).

Heat Capacity: Measurement of specific heat (heat capacity) using the relaxation time method.

High Impedance Probe: A probe designed for characterizing highly insulating samples (up to 100 GW at two points).

Fast Hall effect measurements: Rapid Hall effect measurements using advanced instrumentation from LakeShore Cryogenics to determine the mobility and concentration of charge carriers.

Characteristics required for the materials under study:

Bulk samples (single crystals, polycrystals, ceramics) or thin films on substrates.
Size suitable for standard sample holders (pucks): typically less than 10 × 10 mm for electrical measurements, and ranging from a few milligrams to tens of milligrams with a flat surface for thermal capacitance.
For transport measurements, the ability to create reliable electrical or thermal contacts (micro-soldering, silver lacquer, conductive epoxy resins) on the surface of the sample.

In practice, when the conditions are right, the transport and thermodynamic properties are determined with very high resolution, making it possible to detect minute variations associated with phase transitions.