Problem

Quantum technologies are considered a key technology of this century.

Superconducting quantum systems require a very low operating temperature close to absolute zero (-273.15°C). So far, the necessary operating temperatures have been achieved using dilution refrigerators, which require the extremely rare gas Helium-3.

As Helium-3 is a by-product of nuclear weapons production, this creates the following problems for the European single market:

• Strategic, geopolitical dependence
• Endangered supply
• Increasing prices

Project

Under the leadership of Professor Philipp Gegenwart, the Chair of Experimental Physics VI at the EKM has discovered materials that are excellently suited for magnetic cooling at very low temperatures.

This enables cooling at very low temperatures for superconducting quantum technologies and thus offers a sustainable alternative to dilution refrigerators without being dependent on the rare gas Helium-3.

The Solidcryo project team aims to further develop these materials and to establish and commercialise high quality measurement technology for low temperature physics.

The project team is supported by the following funding:

• Validation support by Bayern Innovativ GmbH in 2024
• Exist transfer of research by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action in 2025 and 2026

Advantages of ADR

Adiabatic Demagnetisation Refrigeration

ADR cooling offers advantages compared to Helium-3 based dilution refrigerators:

• Sustainability: no Helium-3 required
• Cost efficiency: no extreme resource-related price fluctuations
• Speed: fast cooling and warming up process
• Durability: no moving components

The new materials also offer following advantages:

• Optimised manufacturing process
• Excellent thermal conductivity
• Extreme mechanical and thermal load capacity
• Low temperatures below 20 mK