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Keeping a quantum computer consistently cold is no easy feat, which is why IBM has researched and developed a cooling system with temperatures even lower than outer space. The colossal Goldeneye fridge, known for its exceptional design, utilizes a blend of helium-3 and helium-4 to cool its contents down to milli-Kelvin range (mK).
Unlike conventional fridges, the massive Goldeneye fridge is engineered to eliminate internal folds. With an internal volume of up to 1.7 m³, it surpasses previous quantum computer fridges in size. This modular fridge features a clamshell design, allowing the outer vacuum chamber to open to one side, facilitating easy access to the internal hardware.
One intriguing feature of this massive fridge is its ability to connect with various other fridges and cool at different temperature ranges. Weighing in at a total of 6.7 tons, its substantial weight partly aids in damping vibrations that could disrupt quantum devices. Most importantly, it occupies only a fraction of the space of a dilution fridge with equivalent cooling power. This colossal fridge is operated by a team of scientists.
In recent experiments, the Goldeneye fridge has achieved temperatures as low as 25 mK (equivalent to -273 degrees Celsius). This temperature is over 1,000 times colder than the average outer space temperature. By placing a quantum chip inside and cooling it down, IBM can achieve a coherence time of 450 microseconds for storing information in qubits.
Unfortunately, the massive Goldeneye fridge may not be utilized for cooling quantum computers at present, according to IBM. However, it will serve as a foundation for future experiments, paving the way for a more advanced colossal fridge capable of cooling to even more impressive temperatures than Goldeneye.
Quantum computers may seem distant and abstract to many, leading to a lack of understanding of their significance. Currently, quantum computers find applications in fields such as finance, military, intelligence, drug discovery, aerospace, nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, and more.
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