the methods required to maintain qubits are exotic.
this site mentions the refrigeration equipment youre referencing i believe https://www.pnnl.gov/news-media/new-superconducting-qubit-testbed-benefits-quantum-information-science-development
It’s not much to look at. Its case—the size of a pack of chewing gum–is connected to wires that transmit signals to a nearby panel of custom radiofrequency receivers. But most important, it’s nestled within a shiny gold cocoon called a dilution refrigerator and shielded from stray electrical signals. When the refrigerator is running, it is among the coldest places on Earth, so very close to absolute zero, less than 6 millikelvin (about −460 degrees F).
how in the absurd fuck do they get something that cold
lots of fun techniques, a common one for getting down low enough where other methods become practical is stirling cryocoolers, and those are even on ebay for a few thousand (cascade refrigeration systems, and joule thompson coolers, and a few others are also used), way down past that theres stuff like weird magnetic coolers, and dilution coolers All very interesting, reading about exotic cooling methods is quite fun.
Early gen tech of any kind usually has a neat look
What is this sexy thing?
That’s her exhaust fan, you pervert!
Google image search says it’s a desk calculator with electron tubes.
Good point. This is often true. I was thinking of early computers with the big tape reels, which definitely didn’t look interesting, but there are other examples like the one you showed.
Quantum states are incredibly fragile and can be disturbed with even the slightest interaction with the environment (called decoherence). These devices are cooled and isolated to the most extreme degrees possible and still at present decoherence severely limits the computations that can be performed.
Wow so that’s where they got the idea for the tardis engine
And the design of the computer in the show Devs
what did you just call me
Nah, they build a quantum computer in the design of the tardis engine.
Its timey wimey stuff after all
;)
Because the pictures are there so you’ll think “wow science” and give them money.
No.
So you’re a believer eh?
Yes.
What do you have to go by?
So you’re a conspiracist, eh?
Is a crime happening?
