Oxford Instruments NanoScience Installs Dilution Refrigerators in The NQCC’s Purpose-built Research Labs

Insider Brief

• Oxford Instruments NanoScience has installed three ProteoxMX dilution refrigerators at the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), supporting the development of scalable superconducting qubit systems for quantum computing research at the Harwell Campus.
• The ProteoxMX systems’ modular Secondary Insert design allows the NQCC to optimize experimental workflows by configuring setups outside the refrigerators and swapping them in, enabling simultaneous experiments and maximizing system uptime.
• Oxford Instruments collaborated with the NQCC to ensure smooth installation, including advising on lab layouts and accommodating temporary facility requirements, marking a milestone in advancing the UK’s quantum computing technology roadmap.

PRESS RELEASE — Oxford Instruments NanoScience has installed three ProteoxMX dilution refrigerators at the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), the UK’s national lab for quantum computing at their Harwell Campus. The systems will be used by the NQCC’s research team, who are developing hardware architectures based on superconducting circuits.

NQCC’s facilities provide state-of-the-art laboratories for designing, building and testing quantum computers through its own R&D and the Quantum Computing Testbed Initiative. The work of its technical teams spans the full quantum-computing stack – from the native quantum hardware to classical control systems and software, through to applications development. Its goal is to demonstrate full-stack quantum computer prototypes towards scalability, reliability and practical applicability.

Oxford Instruments was awarded the contract to supply ProteoxMX fridges to the NQCC following a competitive procurement process for its research developing scalable quantum computing platforms because of its modular Secondary Insert design. The Secondary Inserts enable an entire experimental set-up – including samples, wiring and components – to be configured outside of the dilution refrigerator and exchanged when needed.

The NQCC makes use of multiple Secondary Inserts so that at any time, a new experimental set up can be worked on, while current experiments continue in its fridges, maximising the uptime of the dilution refrigerator and providing adaptability for future experimental setups.

Ahead of installation, Oxford Instruments worked with the NQCC to advise on lab layout and equipment optimisation. The project had unique needs which required adaptability and flexibility. While the NQCC continued the work constructing its new facility, Oxford Instruments installed the ProteoxMX dilution refrigerators in a temporary location before relocating them to their final destination. The collaboration, communication, and flexibility enabled the smooth and successful delivery of the project.

Matt Martin, Managing Director of Oxford Instruments NanoScience, said, “It is an honour to collaborate with the NQCC as it develops and delivers on the UK’s quantum computing technology roadmap. This is an exciting time for the UK quantum industry. Oxford Instruments NanoScience is proud to provide the homegrown hardware and servicing expertise to further the NQCC’s work to enable the commercial readiness of this transformative technology.”

Ash Vadgama, NQCC’s Deputy Director for Operations, said, “Alongside meeting the technical requirements of our superconducting qubit program, quality assurance, health and safety, operational support, and flexibility in installation have been important considerations as we bring our new facilities online and build out our laboratory infrastructure.”

Dr Vivek Chidambaram, NQCC’s Superconducting Hardware Development Manager, said “Installation of these three Oxford Instruments dilution refrigerators is an important milestone for the NQCC Superconducting Circuits team. These can now be built out into multiple superconducting qubit systems, which will enable us to perform research to address challenges and accelerate the development of superconducting quantum computing.”