IBM Unveils Modular Cryogenic System for Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computer
IBM has made significant progress in its quest to build a large-scale quantum computer. The company has developed a modular cryogenic system that can handle hundreds of quantum chips and is an important milestone on its roadmap to release a fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029.
The new system uses a rectangular form factor, which enables denser integration of readout and control wiring, simplifying coupling between adjacent cells. This design change also allows for the separation of components and subsystems, making it easier to optimize them independently as the density of wiring and quantum devices increases.
In a recent demonstration, IBM combined two operational modules of its new cryogenic system and showed that they could join forces to cool down to 4 Kelvin in under five days. The final temperature of below 15 milliKelvin was achieved soon after, demonstrating temperatures 180 times colder than deep space.