Improved Magnetostrictive Valve for Use at Low Temperature

An improved magnetostrictive valve for remotely controlling a flow of liquid helium has been developed. Heretofore, flows of liquid helium have been controlled by use of valves with mechanical or gas connections to actuators in warmer locations. The connections act as heat-leak paths. In contrast, the design of the present valve is optimized for operation at liquid-helium temperature (below 4.2 K), so that the entire valve can be maintained at or slightly above liquid-helium temperature to minimize leakage of heat into the liquid helium.