Colorado Startup Maybell Introduces a New Dilution Refrigerator

Picture of the Maybell Icebox. Credit: Maybell

One of the key components for building a superconducting or spin qubit quantum processor is a dilution refrigerator that can cool down the chip to millikelvin temperatures in order to reduce any environmental thermal noise that can impair the fidelity of the qubit operations. Now, Colorado startup Maybell (the company was named after the coldest town in the state of Colorado) has introduced their first product, called the Maybell Icebox. They say it has been thoughtfully designed from the ground-up for use in a quantum computer. The fridge has several features that quantum hardware engineers and researchers are sure to welcome. First, that company indicates the unit will support three times the number of qubits in one-tenth the physical space. The unit takes the space of two 19-inch server racks and still leaves additional space for customer-specific electronics. Other features the company claims include dense Superflex cables that can carry over 4500 microwave signals into the fridge, a door for sample swaps so a user doesn't have to disassemble the unit to change a sample, an integrated chamber lift mechanism, better software, lower noise, and high reliability. Also, the company notes their unit is made in the USA and that have worked to establish a robust supply chain for their needed components with a priority for domestic and friendly sources. Maybell has financed their development through venture capital, contracts from the U.S. government agencies DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) and NSIC (National Security Innovation Capital), and preorders from customers.

Maybell is taking orders now for the product with expected delivery in late 2022 or early 2023. Additional information about Maybell and their Icebox dilution refrigerator can be seen in a press release available here and a product page for the unit on the Maybell website here.

March 14, 2022