We discuss the prerequisites and provide expert opinions.
/ фото CC BY-ND
Why is helium needed in quantum computers?
Before discussing the situation regarding the shortage of helium, let's talk about why quantum computers need helium at all.
Quantum machines operate with qubits. Unlike classical bits, they can exist in states 0 and 1 simultaneously—in superposition. This creates a phenomenon of quantum parallelism in the computational system, where operations are performed simultaneously with zero and one. This feature allows qubit-based machines to solve certain problems faster than classical computers—such as simulating molecular and chemical reactions.
However, there is a problem: qubits are fragile objects, and they can maintain superposition for only a few nanoseconds. Even a slight fluctuation in temperature disrupts it, resulting in what is called . To prevent qubit destruction, quantum computers under low temperatures—10 mK (–273.14°C). To achieve temperatures close to absolute zero, companies utilize liquid helium, specifically the isotope , which does not solidify under such extreme conditions.
What's the problem
In the near future, the IT industry may face a shortage of helium-3 for the development of quantum computers. This substance is virtually nonexistent in its natural form on Earth—its volume in the planet's atmosphere (1.37 parts per million relative to helium-4). Helium-3 is a byproduct of tritium decay, the production of which (the last heavy-water nuclear reactor in the U.S. was shut down). Afterward, tritium began to be extracted from components of decommissioned nuclear weapons, but according to the U.S. Congressional Research Service, this initiative has not significantly increased strategic reserves of the substance. Both Russia and the U.S. have some reserves, but .
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that a significant portion of helium-3 is used for the production of neutron scanners, which are deployed at border checkpoints to detect radioactive materials. Neutron scanners have been a mandatory tool at all U.S. customs since 2000. Due to several factors, helium-3 supplies in the U.S. are already regulated by government agencies that issue quotas to public and private organizations, and IT experts are concerned that there will soon not be enough helium-3 to meet demand.
How bad is it?
There is an opinion that the shortage of helium-3 will negatively impact quantum developments. Blake Johnson, the vice president of quantum computer manufacturer Rigetti Computing, mentioned in an interview with MIT Tech Review , that the refrigerant is incredibly difficult to obtain. The problem is compounded by its high cost, with the filling of one refrigeration unit costing $40,000.
However, representatives of D-Wave, another quantum startup, disagree with Blake's opinion. According to the vice president of the organization, only a small amount of helium-3 is needed to produce a quantum computer, which can be considered negligible compared to the overall available volume of the substance. Therefore, the refrigerant shortage will go unnoticed by the quantum industry.
Additionally, other methods of extracting helium-3 that are not related to tritium are being developed today. One of them is extracting the isotope from natural gas. First, it undergoes deep condensation at low temperatures, and then it goes through separation and rectification processes (removal of gas impurities). This approach was previously considered economically unfeasible, but with technological advancements, the situation has changed. Last year, plans to start helium-3 extraction were announced by .
Several countries are planning to extract helium-3 on the Moon. Its surface layer contains up to of this substance (Table 2). According to scientists' estimates, these resources will last for five millennia. NASA has already begun creating , which process into helium-3. The development of the corresponding Earth and lunar infrastructure is being carried out by and But it will not be possible to implement it in practice until at least 2030.
Another way to prevent a helium-3 shortage is to find a substitute for it in the production of neutron scanners. By the way, it in 2018 — they are crystals of zinc sulfide and lithium-6 fluoride. They allow for the detection of radioactive materials with an accuracy exceeding 90%.
/ фото CC BY-ND
Other "quantum" issues
Besides the helium shortage, there are other difficulties hindering the development of quantum computers. The first is the lack of hardware components. There are still few large companies in the world engaged in developing the ‘inner workings’ of quantum machines. Sometimes companies have to wait for the cooling system to be produced, .
A number of countries are trying to solve this problem through government programs. Such initiatives have already been launched in the US and Europe. For instance, just recently in the Netherlands, with the support of the Ministry of Economy, the company Delft Circuits was established. It focuses on manufacturing components for quantum computing systems.
Another difficulty is the shortage of specialists. The demand for them is growing, but they are not easy to find. According to the NYT, there are no more than a thousand experienced "quantum engineers" in the world. Leading technical universities are addressing this issue. For example, MIT is already the first programs to train specialists in working with quantum machines. The development of the relevant academic programs is also underway at the American National Quantum Initiative.
Overall, IT experts are convinced that the challenges facing quantum computer creators are quite surmountable. In the future, new technological breakthroughs in this field are to be expected.
What we write in the first blog about corporate IaaS:
Source: habr.com
