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Mr. Freeze
To create a climate colder than outer
space, external pumps drive helium-3
refrigerant into copper tubing (above).
As the helium circulates, it compress-
es, liquefies, and chills. It takes a day
to hit the lowest low: 0.01 degrees
Kelvin, or minus 272 degrees C.Think Tank
Qubits rely on many components. A
wall of microwave generators
(previous spread) create electromag-
netic pulses that travel through a
maze of coaxial cables (image at left)
and send the qubits—deep in the 1.5
metre tall blue fridge—into action.Robert Schoelkopf and Michel Devoret pioneered a way
to stabilise them. By building qubits out of superconduc-
tors—materials with no resistance to electrical current
at extremely low temperatures—they create a space
in which quantum algorithms can flow undisturbed.
As a look inside their lab reveals, it takes a huge operation—
and a very cold fridge—to help these tiny wafers think big.