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Comment on Why are quantum computers these gorgeous golden chandelier

Alabaster_Mango@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

I’m prepared to be proven wrong on this, as my exposure to quantum computer cooling systems has been super brief, but as far as I know there are no toxic coolants.

The pre cooler is a Pulse Tube Refrigerator, and the main cooler is a Dilution Refrigerator. Those both use helium, and that stuff floats out into space. I doubt it’s going into the ocean. Here’s another article that talks about the operation.

Like I said though, my exposure was brief. Unfortunately we didn’t land any projects with the supercomputer people 😞. I’m always down to learn more about niche topics though. Makes me super fun at parties. If you have good sources shoot them my way. I couldn’t find anything in my 5 ish minutes of web searching.

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qjkxbmwvz@startrek.website ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Wrong. I breathed in some helium once and it made my voice all high pitched which threatened my fragile masculinity. Very toxic.

(/s…)

Never worked much with cryogenics, but the one thing I learned was to never get in an elevator with (large quantities of) liquid nitrogen — if the elevator stops it can displace the oxygen and that’s…kinda bad.

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- Alabaster_Mango@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Yeah, totes. Scentless non-toxic gases can still be deadly by merit of not being oxygen.
  
  The only recreational octave-shifting gas I indulge in is Sulfur Hexafluoride. Bolsters the ol’ baritone.
  
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  - RubberElectrons@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    That’s no bueno for the environment.
    
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    nova_ad_vitum@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    I just looked it up and…
    
    SF6 has 23,500 times greater global warming potential (GWP) than CO2 as a greenhouse gas (over a 100-year time-frame) but exists in relatively minor concentrations in the atmosphere. Its concentration in Earth’s troposphere reached 11.50 parts per trillion (ppt) in October 2023, rising at 0.37 ppt/year.[8] The increase since 1980 is driven in large part by the expanding electric power sector, including fugitive emissions from banks of SF6 gas contained in its medium- and high-voltage switchgear. Uses in magnesium, aluminium, and electronics manufacturing also hastened atmospheric growth.[9] The 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which came into force in 2005, is supposed to limit emissions of this gas. In a somewhat nebulous way it has been included as part of the carbon emission trading scheme. In some countries this has led to the defunction of entire industries.[10]
    
    Umm wtf? Why are we selling this stuff in compressed air cans ? Even methane is “only” 30x more potent than CO2 .
    
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