Helium-3: The Key to Quantum Computing's Scalable Future

Helium-3 is set to play a key role in the scalable future of quantum computing, and natural resources company Interlune has announced its first commercial customer for the rare isotope.

Maybell Quantum, a company developing advanced cryogenic systems for qubits, will be a launching customer for Interlune's helium-3.

"Helium-3 will fuel a fundamental transformation in computing. Today, we have a few hundred quantum computers around the world. In the next few years, we’ll get to thousands, then tens of thousands, and they all need to get cold," said Maybell Quantum CEO Corban Tillemann-Dick.

Each dilution refrigerator uses a few dozen liters of helium-3, but as systems become more advanced and larger scale, they will require several hundred, or even thousands, of liters.

Maybell Quantum's refrigeration systems can support three times the number of qubits in one-tenth the space of competitive systems, and they achieve temperatures below 10 millikelvins (mK). This is three times more efficient in terms of volume and ten times more efficient in terms of footprint.

The company's systems also offer increased reliability and experimentation capacity, which is essential for quantum computing companies that are rapidly expanding their operations.

"Maybell's innovation in cryogenic refrigeration is ahead of its time, making it possible for its quantum computing customers to innovate in turn. We are thrilled and honored to book our first commercial order with a company delivering real-world breakthroughs on the ground every day while simultaneously planning for a radically expanded quantum future that’s right around the corner," said Interlune CEO Rob Meyerson.

Interlune is developing technologies to separate helium-3 from Earth's helium supplies, as well as to harvest helium-3 from the Moon. Its lunar harvesting systems are designed to be smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient, reducing the costs of transportation and operation.

Interlune is planning multiple missions to the Moon this decade to harvest helium-3, and it is also receiving $18 million in venture capital and grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, NASA, and the National Science Foundation to support its efforts.

These efforts will be critical for ensuring the scalability of quantum computing in the years to come. As quantum computing transitions from research labs to real-world applications, the demand for helium-3 is expected to increase rapidly.

Interlune's partnership with Maybell Quantum is a significant milestone in the rapidly advancing field of quantum technology.