How to keep quantum chips fresh for a long time? my country's first "quantum chip refrigerator" is launched

Quantum chips have extremely high requirements for the storage environment. How can the delicate quantum chips be kept fresh for a long time? On March 15, the reporter learned from the Anhui Quantum Computing Engineering Research Center that the first domestically produced high-vacuum storage box for storing quantum chips has been successfully developed and put into use in the country's first quantum chip production line. Scientists figuratively call it a "quantum chip refrigerator."

Quantum chip high vacuum storage box. Image provided by Benyuan Quantum

"The superconducting materials in quantum chips are highly sensitive to the environment and easily react chemically with oxygen and water molecules in the air, just like food 'oxidizes and rots' when exposed to the air. If quantum chips are not properly stored, they will become unusable because they are 'not fresh'. The Benyuan Quantum team uses high-vacuum storage technology and independently developed this quantum chip high-vacuum storage box, which can provide a high-vacuum storage environment for quantum chips, just like a 'refrigerator' for quantum chips. R&D personnel use it to adjust the indoor pressure of the storage space, thereby 'keeping fresh' the quantum chips and preventing them from losing their effectiveness." Jia Zhilong, deputy director of the Anhui Quantum Computing Engineering Research Center, introduced to reporters.

Quantum chips are the core components of quantum computers. Unlike traditional classical integrated circuit chips, quantum chips need to go through a complex system production process. Factors such as ambient temperature, cleanliness, noise, vibration, electromagnetic waves, and tiny impurity particles will all have an impact on quantum chips.

Jia Zhilong said that if the storage environment of quantum chip samples does not meet the standards during the tape-out process or after tape-out, the superconducting quantum chip will absorb various impurities, and its key components such as the Josephson junction and superconducting capacitor will age, resulting in poor consistency in the frequency of quantum bits and reduced coherence time of the quantum chip. Ultimately, the performance of the quantum chip will deteriorate. This problem can be avoided by using independently developed quantum chip high-vacuum storage boxes to place quantum chips.