An apparatus includes heat-generating structure disposed in an environment having
an ambient pressure, and a cooling system for removing heat from the heat-generating
structure. The cooling system includes a fluid coolant, structure which reduces
a pressure of the coolant to a subambient pressure at which the coolant has a boiling
temperature less than a temperature of the heat-generating structure; and structure
which directs a flow of the liquid coolant at the subambient pressure so that it
is brought into thermal communication with the heat-generating structure, the coolant
then absorbing heat and changing to a vapor. A method for cooling heat-generating
structure disposed in an environment having an ambient pressure includes providing
a fluid coolant and reducing a pressure of the coolant to a subambient pressure
at which the coolant has a boiling temperature less than a temperature of the heat-generating
structure. The method also includes bringing the coolant at the subambient pressure
into thermal communication with the heat-generating structure, so that the coolant
boils and vaporizes to thereby absorb heat from the heat-generating structure.