Helium: The Quantum Computing Coolant Facing Supply Risks
Helium’s Essential Function in Quantum Systems
Helium, especially its rare isotope helium-3, is vital for quantum computing, enabling the ultra-low temperatures (near 0 Kelvin or -273°C) needed to stabilize qubits in systems such as IBM’s and D-Wave’s superconducting setups. Dilution refrigerators, blending helium-3 and helium-4, cool these systems to 10 millikelvin, a necessity given qubits’ extreme sensitivity to thermal noise. Yet, helium’s supply is increasingly precarious, posing risks to this cutting-edge field.
Earth’s Scarce Helium Supply and Market Volatility
Though helium is abundant in the cosmos, Earth’s supply is scarce—just 0.0005% of the atmosphere—with most extracted as a byproduct of natural gas. Global shortages since 2006 have driven prices from $7.57 per cubic meter in 2020 to $14 in 2023 (USGS data), reflecting limited production hubs: the U.S. (40%), Qatar (35%), and Russia (8-10%). Disruptions—plant outages, Russia’s 2022 supply cuts, or the U.S. selling its Federal Helium Reserve (finalized in 2025 to Messer)—expose the market’s fragility. Helium-3, sourced from decaying nuclear warheads and costing over $5,000 per liter, is even tighter, with the U.S. and Russia controlling its finite stockpile. China, reliant on imports for 94% of its helium, faces added pressure as U.S. export controls loom.
Rising Demand and the Quantum Computing Factor
Demand is surging, with quantum computing joining semiconductors and healthcare in pushing helium needs toward a projected doubling by 2035. Scaling quantum systems amplifies this strain, yet alternatives lag. Photonic quantum computers (e.g., Xanadu’s Aurora) run at room temperature, bypassing helium, but lack the scale of superconducting systems. Solid-state cooling, such as China’s cobalt-based supersolid, reaches 1 Kelvin but requires pre-cooling, often still helium-dependent. Recycling recovers 80-90% of helium in labs but is costly, while lunar helium-3 mining remains a distant dream.
The Helium Dilemma in Quantum Innovation
Helium’s exceptional ability to cool quantum computers to ultra-low temperatures is a cornerstone of quantum qubit technology. Its limited availability, geopolitical uncertainties, and escalating costs create a looming challenge which could hinder advancements unless effective alternatives are developed.
