Compact Miniature High-Resolution Thermometer

We report a compact miniature high-resolution thermometer (CMHRT) based on dilute paramagnetic alloy of PdMn and commercially available Neodymium (NdFeB) magnets. The thermometer utilizes the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility of the alloy in an applied magnetic field. The change in susceptibility is measured with a pickup coil connected to a dc-SQUID. Based on this approach, we have developed a self-contained thermometer with sub-nanoKelvin sensitivity with the operating temperature range of 1.6-4 K. Its design, assembly, and performance are described.