Dilution Refrigerators Cool QPUs Below 20 Millikelvin

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are pushing the boundaries of quantum computing by focusing on the complete system needed to harness its potential, not just the qubits themselves. Central to this effort is maintaining a superconducting quantum processing unit at 20 millikelvin, a temperature colder than outer space and just 0.02 degrees above absolute zero, using specialized dilution refrigerators that resemble “golden chandeliers with cables running up and down.” These cables are critical for both sending control signals to the processor and receiving information from it at room temperature. “Making a functional quantum computer requires much more than qubits alone; it takes an entire technology stack that can harness quantum science for real-world applications,” explains Chris…