A heat shield and insulation system comprised of multiple layers of metallic sheets separated by small protrusions or dimples in the metallic sheets. The multiple layers are formed by spirally winding a coil of the metallic sheet around the sample enclosure. The protrusions are formed by stamping the metallic sheets, preferably in a random patterns, such that one set of protrusions does not nest in the protrusions formed in a neighboring sheet. The spacing between the layers of metallic sheets is small, such that convection does not occur in the space between the layers. Accordingly, the heat transfer between the layers of the metallic sheets is primarily radiative or via thermal conduction through the gas. The two ends of the helically wound metallic sheet are insulated by multiple thin metallic disks.