Breaking Foreign Monopolies: Zhongke Fuhai Delivers Critical Cryogenic Support for China's Only Superconducting Free Electron Laser
Zhongke Fuhai (CAS FuHai) has officially passed user acceptance testing for its
2K cryogenic system, a critical component powering the
Infrared Terahertz Free Electron Laser Facility at China's Institute of Applied Engineering Physics in Chengdu. This is not merely a routine maintenance upgrade; it represents the successful integration of high-end, domestically produced cooling technology into a world-class scientific instrument.
- Performance Validation: After stable operation exceeding 2,190 hours, the system proved its reliability under extreme conditions. It successfully maintained:
- 192 Liters/hour helium liquefaction at 4.5K (-268.7°C).
- 153 Watts of cooling capacity at 2K (-271.15°C), precisely matching the superconducting accelerator's demands.
- Technological Independence: The system utilizes proprietary technologies including high-speed gas bearing turbine expanders and intelligent integrated control systems. This marks a decisive step in breaking foreign technological monopolies that have long dominated the supply chain for ultra-cold engineering equipment, which is essential for large-scale scientific facilities like particle accelerators.

The facility this system supports holds unique status globally and nationally:
- Unique Capability: It is China's only operating high-average-power free electron laser source based on a superconducting accelerator. While many countries operate such facilities, China has historically relied on imported components for the cryogenic infrastructure required to keep them running.
- Scientific Impact: The facility utilizes a photocathode DC high-voltage electron gun and a radio-frequency superconducting accelerator. By cooling these components to near absolute zero, electrical resistance is eliminated, allowing electrons to be accelerated efficiently to generate stable terahertz radiation. This overcomes the limitations of traditional terahertz sources, which are often low-power or unstable.
- Applications:As a national strategic asset, this laser serves as a core platform for advancing research in:
- Communications: Enabling ultra-high-speed data transmission.
- Biomedicine: Facilitating advanced medical imaging and non-invasive diagnostics.
- National Defense Security: Providing capabilities for remote sensing and materials analysis that are difficult to achieve with conventional lasers.
This project highlights the maturation of China's cryogenic industry under Zhongke Fuhai, which has invested over a decade into developing helium refrigerators ranging from hundreds of watts to tens of millions of watts.
- Domestic Supply Chain Security: By mastering complex cryogenic systems, CAS FuHai reduces reliance on foreign vendors for "core driving components" of major scientific projects. This autonomy is vital as the country accelerates its goals in building international-class research facilities.
- Future Roadmap:The success here paves the way for deploying similar independent cryogenic solutions across other strategic emerging fields where extreme temperatures are required, including:
- Nuclear Fusion Energy: Essential for maintaining superconducting magnets in fusion reactors (like CFETR or ITER support).
- Quantum Technology: Critical for cooling qubits and quantum sensors to their operational limits.
- Semiconductors & Aerospace: Supporting manufacturing processes that require ultra-low thermal environments and advanced propulsion systems.