IBM Develops a Supercool Refrigerator in the Goldeneye Project, Capable of Cooling Future Generations of Quantum Computers.
IBM engineers working on the Goldeneye refrigerator project. (Photo: IBM).
In a statement released on September 8, IBM engineers announced that Goldeneye may not be used for any of the company’s current quantum processors, but the development of the machine has allowed them to accumulate many important lessons. It took them three years to build the machine. According to IBM, the amount of steel and electronic equipment used to create the refrigerator totals 7 tons. The machine can cool a volume larger than three household refrigerators to temperatures 100 times colder than outer space.
The research team achieved an operating temperature of -273.125 degrees Celsius and connected it to an electronic processor inside. The refrigerator will be transferred to the IBM Quantum Computing Center in Poughkeepsie, New York. There, researchers will explore large-scale refrigeration systems to determine the needs of future quantum data centers. They hope this advanced design, along with its ease of use, will inspire the next generation of vacuum technology and low-temperature refrigerators.
Goldeneye features a completely new structure comprising a frame and a cooling machine, integrating a modular design that simplifies the processes of sampling, assembly, and disassembly. This makes the machine a unique refrigerator compared to other large refrigerators that may require cranes and dozens of technicians for assembly and disassembly. IBM stated that the fully automated system of Goldeneye includes a rotating crane, allowing a single operator to manage the refrigerator. The machine can be monitored remotely with the support of an open-source visual platform.
