A 30-meter-long tube kept near absolute zero lets quantum computers talk to each other across a room.
April 20, 2026
Original Paper
A Modular Cryogenic Link for Microwave Quantum Communication Over Distances of Tens of Meters
arXiv · 2604.15971
The Takeaway
Superconducting qubits are incredibly sensitive and must be kept colder than outer space to function. Until now, this meant they had to stay trapped inside a single refrigeration unit. This new cryogenic link maintains those extreme temperatures over a distance of 30 meters, connecting separate quantum processors. It allows for loophole-free tests of quantum physics and the creation of large-scale quantum networks. This engineering feat proves that we can scale up quantum computers by linking many small units together. It is a critical step toward building a true quantum internet that spans entire buildings.
From the abstract
Quantum technologies promise a radically new way to solve classically intractable computing problems. Superconducting circuits as a platform are at the forefront of this field. The cryogenic operation temperatures of superconducting circuits however impose challenges for the further scaling to many connected quantum information processing units into a local area or global network. In this work, we present a hardware solution for connecting quantum devices operating at microwave frequencies into