IBM builds the world's largest dilution refrigerator for quantum computers

Preparation for additional scaling. 

IBM builds the world's largest dilution refrigerator for quantum computers

The super-fridge is known as project Goldeneye.

By Loukia Papadopoulos, Created: Sep 11, 2022 9:56 AM

INNOVATION

IBM's Goldeneye project.

IBM has built a super-fridge known as project Goldeneye that is capable of cooling future generations of quantum experiments and that surpasses the issues found in today’s dilution refrigerators, according to a blog published by the firm on Thursday.

The company's engineers said that the new device may not be slated for use with any of the current IBM Quantum processors but that building it taught them important lessons on how to overcome these challenges.

“Goldeneye is a testament to the fact that a small team of people armed with passion and dedication can move a seven-ton 'mountain' of steel and electronics," read the blog.

"The super-fridge contains 1.7 cubic meters’ worth of experimental volume, meaning it can cool a volume larger than three home kitchen refrigerators to temperatures colder than the outer space, versus previous fridges, which are in the range of 0.4-0.7 cubic meters."

The IBM team managed to successfully cool the fridge down to operating temperature (~25 mK) and wired a quantum processor inside. The device will now move to the IBM Quantum Computation Center in Poughkeepsie, NY, where a new team of researchers will explore large-scale cryogenic systems to best develop the cooling needs of tomorrow’s quantum data centers.

“We hope that its innovative design, with an eye toward ease-of-use, will inspire the next generation of vacuum and low-temperature refrigeration technologies,” engineers said in the blog ...