History

IDEAS! (Instrument Development and Application of Science) UvA B.V. originated from the Microgravity group of the Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute of the Faculty of Science of the Universiteit van Amsterdam. A wide variety of experimental techniques is applied for the different scientific topics covered by the research program of the science faculty. The technical departments are devoted to the design and manufacturing of the equipment for the different research projects. The group IDEAS! is embedded in this scientific and technical environment and uses its expertise to development instruments for space applications.

Space Activities

The former Microgravity research group in the faculty FNWI has contributed to the scientific space program with experiments performed on two International Microgravity Laboratory missions -IML-1 and IML-2 flown on the space shuttle. For this purpose, as well as on behalf of other international research groups, "Sample Temperature Conditioning Systems" have been realized. This technological work involves the design and manufacturing of exchangeable precision thermostats with the regulation and control software. Interface software for automatic or interactive operation and data readout storage is developed. Heat exchangers, to remove generated heat, and various sample cells units are developed and manufactured. For parabolic flight experiments complete systems with application of the thermostats were developed. The thermostats have been used both for ESA's Critical Point Facility (CPF), flown on IML-1 and IML-2, and for the ALICE system developed by CNES, flown frequently on the Space Station MIR. See for experimental results the thesis of Christoph Batscher and Robert de Bruijn (Thesis University of Amsterdam 1999 ISBN 90-5776-021-5).

ALICE/CPF

The ALICE/CPF THERMOSTATS are characterized by their very high precision and stability better than typically 30 microKelvin/hour. The spatial temperature gradients in the experimental area are of the order of 10 microKelvin/mm. The temperature of the thermostat can be set from ambient temperature to 65ºC. In the experimental area high speed quenches of 10 milliKelvin/s can be performed. The sample cell or experimental space has a diameter of 60 mm and a height 110 mm. The Low Mass makes the system especially suitable for space application. The experimental volume is easy accessible to the scientists. All technological and space tasks are performed in close co-operation with various aerospace industries and agencies, e.g. ESA/ESTEC, NASA, CNES, EADS SPACE LAUNCHERS, DARA, TPD/TNO, NLR and NIVR.