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[TECHNOLOGY] · United States · 18 sources

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IBM links modular cryogenic systems for quantum scaling

IBM has achieved a significant milestone in quantum computing by successfully joining and cooling two modular cryogenic systems into a single operating environment. The demonstration, conducted at the company’s facilities in Poughkeepsie, New York, marks a critical step toward the development of IBM Quantum Starling, a fault-tolerant quantum computer targeted for delivery in 2029.

The new modular architecture utilizes box-shaped aluminum modules rather than traditional cylindrical designs, allowing them to be placed side-by-side. This setup provides up to 12 times more wiring space than previous systems, facilitating the high-density connections required for scaling. During testing, the combined structure—standing over 8 feet tall and 8 feet wide—reached 4 Kelvin in under five days and eventually cooled to below 15 millikelvin, a temperature more than 180 times colder than deep space.

IBM plans to install Nighthawk quantum processors into these modules later in 2026. By 2027, the company aims to use its “L-coupler” technology to link multiple processors, creating a system with at least 1,000 programmable qubits. This modular approach is designed to overcome the physical limitations of single-chip scaling by allowing hundreds of quantum chips to operate within a shared, ultra-cold environment.

Entities

IBM · IBM Quantum Starling · Jay Gambetta · Jerry Chow · Poughkeepsie

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22 days ago