Extreme Cooling Unlocks the Future of Quantum Computing Breakthroughs
Quantum computing is advancing rapidly, thanks to extreme cooling technologies that push temperatures far below those found in outer space. These cryogenic systems now enable breakthroughs in fields like cryptography, drug discovery, and material science by keeping quantum processors stable and efficient.
At the heart of this progress are dilution refrigerators, which chill quantum processors to near absolute zero—over a hundred times colder than the vacuum of space. Without such extreme cold, quantum information would quickly degrade, making advanced computations impossible.
Quantum processors rely on qubits, which are highly sensitive to even the smallest thermal fluctuations. To prevent decoherence—the loss of quantum data—these systems must operate at temperatures as low as 10 millikelvin (mK). This is achieved using dilution refrigerators, which combine thermodynamics and quantum mechanics in a multi-stage cooling process.
Superconducting qubits, one of the leading quantum technologies, require these ultra-low temperatures to function. When cooled to millikelvin levels, they can maintain coherence for over 500 microseconds while keeping error rates below 0.01% for single-qubit operations. Trapped ion qubits, another key technology, also depend on precise thermal control, though their requirements differ slightly.
The extreme cold allows quantum effects to dominate, enabling simulations of molecular interactions with unprecedented accuracy. This capability is already accelerating research in drug development and new materials. Additionally, cryogenic quantum systems are transforming cryptography through quantum key distribution (QKD) and post-quantum encryption methods.
Leading institutions and companies are driving this innovation. In Germany, the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS), the Jülich Research Centre, and the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light (MPL) are at the forefront. The Technical University of Munich and the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Centre also contribute significantly. Meanwhile, Globalfoundries and the Swiss startup YQuantum, founded in 2024, are developing miniaturised, high-performance cryogenic hardware to further advance the field.
Cryogenic quantum systems are now a reality, enabling stable qubit operations and unlocking new possibilities in computing, security, and scientific research. With error rates dropping and coherence times improving, these technologies are moving closer to practical, large-scale applications. Institutions across Europe continue to refine cooling methods, ensuring quantum computing remains at the cutting edge of innovation.
