Signal lines
RF lines specifically designed for cryogenics
Tackle your cryogenic cabling challenge. Bringing many channels to your cold stage, signal lines provide a simple and elegant solution for a wide range of applications.
- Unfiltered NbTi and Ag lines
- Up to 100 cm length
- Super flexible
- Out of the box installation
- Up to 18 GHz frequency range
- Customizable connectors
- Sturdy and durable
General Specifications
| Connector Type | SMA female / SMP |
| Connector Material | Goldplated Brass/BeCu/PEEK/PTFE |
| Connector Housing | Goldplated O2-Free Copper |
| Flex length | 200 to 1100 mm |
| Amount of channels | 8 Channels |
| Flex Thickness | 0.3 mm |
| Flex Materials | Polyimide & Silver (Ag) or NbTi |
| Transmission type | Stripline |
| Minimum bending radius | 5 mm |
| Required length for longitudinal rotation | 10 cm / 180° rotation |
| Vacuum Feedthrough Leak rate | <10-9 mbar L s-1 |
| Compatible vacuum connections | KF25/40, ISO 100 side and top loader ports |
Cable overview
Signal lines are the most simple ways to get your i/o to your cold stage. Whether you go for the Silver (Ag)-platform or go superconducting (NbTi), it is suitable for many situations. Find out more about the plain Cri/oFlex® signal solutions below.
Used to
- General I/O to cold stages
- high power lines
- building block for general I/O
Optimised for
- Simpilicity
- Wide band transmission
- Low power loss
Key Features
- 8 Channels per flex *High-density microwave channels
- Resilient against thermal cycling
- Optional filtering & signal conditioning
- Integrated vacuum feedthrough
- Low thermal load
Measurements
All measurements shown on this page are based on a flex cable containing eight channels without components. The mean is shown with a thick line and the spread of all channels is shown with the transparent area.
Transmission properties
The transmission of Cri/oFlex® can be as low as 1.5 dB/m at 6 GHz for NbTi. For our Silver (Ag) platform a typical 6 dB/m at 6 GHz at low temperatures is normal. In the field these losses are denoted as insertion losses.
On the graph the Silver transmission is plotted for different temperatures.
Below the transmission are the S11 reflections graphs shown. These are known in the field as reflection losses, as they appear as reflections for the system. The Cri/oFlex® is overall well below 15 dB for each reflection. For more information contact our engineering team.
Crosstalk
A common concern for high-density microwave signaling is crosstalk. Our multichannel Cri/oFlex® 3 allows for high line density with good isolation. On the right, the near-end crosstalk (NEXT) and equal level far-end crosstalk (EL-FEXT) between channels in a room-temperature 20 cm long Ag Cri/oFlex® 3 with a 1 mm channel pitch are plotted. The solid line is the average of all channel combinations and the semitransparent the area shows the best (furthest) and worst case (nearest channels) of an 8-channel flex. Even in the worst case, crosstalk is below -60 dB for signals up to 10 GHz. NbTi Cri/oFlex® has comparable performance.
The microwave signal lines include an SMA/SMP connector block to interface the room temperature electronics. In case you aim to get Wideband and maximum power at your cold stage, bare signal lines are the way to go.
How to
Integrate
Cri/oFlex® into your system?
Cri/oFlex® can fit in your system in many ways and Delft Circuits has multiple approaches to find a perfect fit for your wishes, options range from a one-stop-shop in cabling solutions or a full service I/O provider designing a specific solution for your I/O challanges.
Need some help picking the right option?
First questions to ask yourself is how your system is currently wired. Do you have a port available or full loader you would like to install, upgrade or add wiring to?
For ports Delft Circuits recommends choosing from our wiring ports solution, if you want to fill a single port with more cables or get a lower heatload etc. etc. and already know exactly what cables you want pick the Wiring ports option. if you want a hassle free solution with installation, service, calibration. We recommend going for the turn-key solution and see what else we can do for you.
Delft Circuits recommends
Wiring ports
Delft Circuits recommends
Turn-key
For ports Delft Circuits recommends choosing from our wiring ports solution, if you want to fill a loader with more cables or get a lower heatload etc.. If you want a hassle free solution with installation etc. etc. we recommend going for the turn-key solution and see what else we can do for you
Delft Circuits recommends
Delft Circuits recommends
If you are building a new system we recommend looking at everything we have to offer for you, next to just I/O we can help you design, help you optimize, do cryogenic calculations, calibrations and much more.
Delft Circuits recommends
Wiring ports
Have a spare port in your fridge and want to add extra lines or replace an existing wiring port with a higher density cabling solution?
We supply vacuum feedthroughs, Thermal clamps, Brackets and Cri/oFlex® laminates for all standard ports you will find in dilution refridgerators.
- Fits for all standard ports
- Out of the box solution
- Upgrade existing systems
Loaders
Delft Circuits can supply fully pre-assembled loaders with Cri/oFlex® cabling inside.
We supply top- and sideloaders for all common brands such as Bluefors, Oxford and Leiden Cryogenics.
The advantages of pre-assambled loaders:
- More channels in a loader
- Plug and play cabling solution
- Engineered for your application
Turn-key
Trying to lead the way in the quantum revolution? We can match your pace in cabling solutions.
Outfitting full systems with cutting edge I/O solutions. Massively scaling cabling solutions for everyone that needs the edge in the quantum race.
Our options:
- Full-service provider
- Full fletched solutions
- Innovative design
Dive deeper into
Cri/oFlex® technology
Learn all about what makes our technology specially fitted for the quantum industry
