Diraq to open quantum R&D lab in New Mexico, using Maybell cryogenics for device evaluation

【Article Title】 Diraq to open quantum R&D lab in New Mexico, using Maybell cryogenics for device evaluation 【Article Body】 AI TRANSLATION This article is an AI-generated translation of the original Japanese article. For the authoritative version, please refer to the original. Read the original Japanese article → (https://quantumindex.jp/diraq-quantum-rd-lab-new-mexico/) Diraq has signed a memorandum to establish a quantum research and development laboratory at the Roadrunner Quantum Lab (RQL) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The lab is expected to be operational by the end of 2026 and will house a dedicated team responsible for testing and characterizing silicon quantum devices. ✍️ Quantum Index Analysis This explains the technical and business implications behind the announcement and highlights evaluation points that aren’t obvious from numbers or headlines alone. Read our exclusive analysis ↓ Summary of announcement RQL is a shared facility jointly operated by Roadrunner Venture Studios and the New Mexico Technology and Innovation Office. It supports technology development and commercialization by startups, companies, and national laboratories in the quantum field. In Diraq’s allocated space, Maybell-manufactured ultra-low-temperature equipment will be installed for use in quantum device characterization. Diraq will establish a dedicated measurement engineering team in Albuquerque and plans to scale staffing according to business needs. The state of New Mexico will support infrastructure and equipment through collaboration with DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI). At the time of the announcement, Diraq is participating in QBI Stage B. The new facility is intended to complement the company’s existing research and technology sites in the U.S. and Australia. Diraq adopts silicon spin qubitsqubitsQubit / Quantum Bit / QubitThe basic unit of information in a quantum computer. It can represent not only 0 or 1 but also a quantum state that is a superposition of them.QI NoteHaving more qubits does not necessarily mean higher performance. Error rates, connectivity, coherence time, and the number of logical qubits are also important. and CMOS-compatible manufacturing processes. It has set targets for the number of physical qubitsphysical qubitsPhysical Qubit / Physical QubitIndividual qubits that are physically created and manipulated on a quantum processor. They are also used to form logical qubits.QI NoteA large number of physical qubits does not by itself indicate practical computational capability. Error rates, connectivity, and the number of physical qubits required per logical qubit are also important. per single chip: 150,000 by 2029 and over 2 million by 2031. Key points • Signed an MOU to establish an R&D lab at Roadrunner Quantum Lab in Albuquerque • The new site is expected to be operational by the end of 2026 • Will install Maybell ultra-low-temperature equipment for quantum device testing and characterization • Will staff a dedicated measurement engineering team, with New Mexico supporting equipment and infrastructure build-out • Diraq is participating in DARPA’s QBI at Stage B Technical and business significance On the technical side, establishing a dedicated domestic team for measurement and characterization strengthens Diraq’s R&D capability toward scaling silicon quantum processors. From a business perspective, combining state support, a shared research facility, and DARPA’s evaluation program tightens regional links that can support development from research through commercialization. However, the announcement does not include specifics on investment amounts, headcount, the detailed roadmap to the stated qubit targets, or performance metrics. What to watch next First, attention will focus on whether the lab is operational by the end of 2026 and on the size and specific responsibilities of the measurement engineering team. The evaluation results from QBI Stage B and how much of the testing and characterization data will be publicly disclosed are also important. Additionally, to assess progress toward the 150,000-physical-qubit goal for 2029, observers will look for the scale and performance of prototype chips and progress in CMOS-compatible manufacturing processes. ✍️ Quantum Index Analysis The key point of this announcement is not merely that Diraq is adding another research location in the U.S. The Australia-founded company is moving into New Mexico’s quantum ecosystem—which includes Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory—and is creating a capability to continuously test and evaluate silicon quantum devices within the U.S. New Mexico’s support and the Roadrunner Quantum Lab, run by Roadrunner Venture Studios, aim to let companies use shared infrastructure rather than investing in expensive equipment from scratch. RQL itself highlights access to Sandia, Los Alamos, and regional semiconductor and photonics industry clusters as local strengths. An interesting detail is that Diraq’s low-temperature equipment will be from U.S.-based Maybell Quantum rather than the widely adopted Bluefors. This should not be read simply as Diraq preferring Maybell over Bluefors. Maybell announced in July 2026 that it would deploy four dilutiondilutionDilution / Dilution / Shareholder Dilution / Equity DilutionAn increase in the number of shares—such as through the issuance of new shares—that causes existing shareholders' ownership percentage and the value per share to be relatively reduced.QI NoteCan occur through issuance of new shares for fundraising or through stock options, among other mechanisms. You should check not only the amount raised but also the number of shares after issuance and the resulting change in existing shareholders' ownership. refrigerators to RQL, so it’s more natural to view the equipment for Diraq as part of the shared low-temperature infrastructure that RQL is provisioning. Maybell Fridge seriesBluefors LD450Base temperatureBelow 10 mKBelow 10 mKCooling power at 20 mK12–14 µW or more (varies by model)14 µW or moreCooling power at 100 mKApproximately 250–1,000 µW (varies by model)450 µW or moreCharacteristicsEmphasizes compact size, high-density wiring, and simplified infrastructureLarge installed base and extensive peripheral equipment and operational know-how Based on nominal specs alone, it’s hard to say Maybell would be an obvious constraint for quantum device evaluation. Maybell’s Fridge series advertises base temperatures below 10 mK and cooling power of 12–14 µW or more at 20 mK, which overlaps with the Bluefors LD450’s spec of below 10 mK and 14 µW or more. Meanwhile, Bluefors has over 1,400 dilution refrigerators in operation worldwide and a mature surrounding ecosystem covering wiring, measurement equipment, and maintenance. The differences with Maybell are more likely to appear in aspects that don’t show up on spec sheets: long-term uptime, noise, reproducibility between units, and maintainability. This becomes an important consideration for Diraq. If the company pursues the scale it has stated—150,000 physical qubitsphysical qubitsPhysical Qubit / Physical QubitIndividual qubits that are physically created and manipulated on a quantum processor. They are also used to form logical qubits.QI NoteA large number of physical qubits does not by itself indicate practical computational capability. Error rates, connectivity, and the number of physical qubits required per logical qubit are also important. by 2029 and over 2 million by 2031—measuring a few high-performing devices in a lab will not be sufficient. A system is needed to repeatedly cool and measure large numbers of silicon devices, capture variability and yield, and feed that data back into manufacturing. At that stage, measurement throughputthroughputThroughput / ThroughputA metric indicating the amount of work that can be processed per unit time. In quantum computing, it represents how quickly circuits or jobs can be repeatedly executed, among other things.QI NoteThe definition and units of throughput vary between companies and systems. When comparing, check not only the raw number of executions but also conditions such as circuit size, accuracy, and wait times. and uptime matter more than ‘‘how many mK’’ the fridge reaches. Therefore, the RQL move should be seen less as a direct technical step toward 150,000 qubitsqubitsQubit / Quantum Bit / QubitThe basic unit of information in a quantum computer. It can represent not only 0 or 1 but also a quantum state that is a superposition of them.QI NoteHaving more qubits does not necessarily mean higher performance. Error rates, connectivity, coherence time, and the number of logical qubits are also important. and more as a strategic move by Diraq to increase device-evaluation capacity near U.S. national labs, government programs, and shared research infrastructure, with mass-production considerations in mind. Going forward, it will be important not only to confirm headcount and investment in the lab but also to determine how many devices can be continuously evaluated on Maybell equipment and how effectively that data will drive improvements in Diraq’s CMOS-compatible manufacturing process. NETWORKSee the industry network around Diraq → (/qi-network/) Related articles • Riverlane to open U.S. headquarters in Maryland, partners with UMD on quantum error correction (https://en.quantumindex.jp/riverlane-us-headquarters-maryland-umd-qec/) • IonQ and CMC Microsystems sign MOU to expand use of Canada’s quantum cloud (https://en.quantumindex.jp/ionq-cmc-fabric-quantum-computing-sandbox-mou/) • QuEra and HPE explore integration of fault-tolerant quantum computers with HPC on a Cray-based on-premises model (https://en.quantumindex.jp/quera-hpe-on-premises-fault-tolerant-quantum-hpc/) Source Read the original announcement (https://www.diraq.com/newsdesk/diraq-to-establish-quantum-rampd-laboratory-in-new-mexico) If you found this article useful, please consider sharing it. ──────────────────── 【AI Evaluation Request】 Evaluate the following article critically, not based on the quality of its writing, but on its **original informational value as a specialist publication**. Do not give a high rating to summaries, paraphrases, explanations of technical terms, or generic observations such as "this will be worth watching" or "the timeline remains uncertain" if they could easily be produced by a general-purpose generative AI, even if they are well written. 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Diraq has signed a memorandum to establish a quantum research and development laboratory at the Roadrunner Quantum Lab (RQL) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The lab is expected to be operational by the end of 2026 and will house a dedicated team responsible for testing and characterizing silicon quantum devices.

Summary of announcement

RQL is a shared facility jointly operated by Roadrunner Venture Studios and the New Mexico Technology and Innovation Office. It supports technology development and commercialization by startups, companies, and national laboratories in the quantum field. In Diraq’s allocated space, Maybell-manufactured ultra-low-temperature equipment will be installed for use in quantum device characterization. Diraq will establish a dedicated measurement engineering team in Albuquerque and plans to scale staffing according to business needs. The state of New Mexico will support infrastructure and equipment through collaboration with DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI). At the time of the announcement, Diraq is participating in QBI Stage B. The new facility is intended to complement the company’s existing research and technology sites in the U.S. and Australia. Diraq adopts silicon spin qubitsqubitsQubit / Quantum Bit / QubitThe basic unit of information in a quantum computer. It can represent not only 0 or 1 but also a quantum state that is a superposition of them.QI NoteHaving more qubits does not necessarily mean higher performance. Error rates, connectivity, coherence time, and the number of logical qubits are also important. and CMOS-compatible manufacturing processes. It has set targets for the number of physical qubitsphysical qubitsPhysical Qubit / Physical QubitIndividual qubits that are physically created and manipulated on a quantum processor. They are also used to form logical qubits.QI NoteA large number of physical qubits does not by itself indicate practical computational capability. Error rates, connectivity, and the number of physical qubits required per logical qubit are also important. per single chip: 150,000 by 2029 and over 2 million by 2031.

Key points

• Signed an MOU to establish an R&D lab at Roadrunner Quantum Lab in Albuquerque
• The new site is expected to be operational by the end of 2026
• Will install Maybell ultra-low-temperature equipment for quantum device testing and characterization
• Will staff a dedicated measurement engineering team, with New Mexico supporting equipment and infrastructure build-out
• Diraq is participating in DARPA’s QBI at Stage B

Technical and business significance

On the technical side, establishing a dedicated domestic team for measurement and characterization strengthens Diraq’s R&D capability toward scaling silicon quantum processors. From a business perspective, combining state support, a shared research facility, and DARPA’s evaluation program tightens regional links that can support development from research through commercialization. However, the announcement does not include specifics on investment amounts, headcount, the detailed roadmap to the stated qubit targets, or performance metrics.

What to watch next

First, attention will focus on whether the lab is operational by the end of 2026 and on the size and specific responsibilities of the measurement engineering team. The evaluation results from QBI Stage B and how much of the testing and characterization data will be publicly disclosed are also important. Additionally, to assess progress toward the 150,000-physical-qubit goal for 2029, observers will look for the scale and performance of prototype chips and progress in CMOS-compatible manufacturing processes.

✍️ Quantum Index Analysis

The key point of this announcement is not merely that Diraq is adding another research location in the U.S. The Australia-founded company is moving into New Mexico’s quantum ecosystem—which includes Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory—and is creating a capability to continuously test and evaluate silicon quantum devices within the U.S. New Mexico’s support and the Roadrunner Quantum Lab, run by Roadrunner Venture Studios, aim to let companies use shared infrastructure rather than investing in expensive equipment from scratch. RQL itself highlights access to Sandia, Los Alamos, and regional semiconductor and photonics industry clusters as local strengths.

An interesting detail is that Diraq’s low-temperature equipment will be from U.S.-based Maybell Quantum rather than the widely adopted Bluefors. This should not be read simply as Diraq preferring Maybell over Bluefors. Maybell announced in July 2026 that it would deploy four dilutiondilutionDilution / Dilution / Shareholder Dilution / Equity DilutionAn increase in the number of shares—such as through the issuance of new shares—that causes existing shareholders' ownership percentage and the value per share to be relatively reduced.QI NoteCan occur through issuance of new shares for fundraising or through stock options, among other mechanisms. You should check not only the amount raised but also the number of shares after issuance and the resulting change in existing shareholders' ownership. refrigerators to RQL, so it’s more natural to view the equipment for Diraq as part of the shared low-temperature infrastructure that RQL is provisioning.

	Maybell Fridge series	Bluefors LD450
Base temperature	Below 10 mK	Below 10 mK
Cooling power at 20 mK	12–14 µW or more (varies by model)	14 µW or more
Cooling power at 100 mK	Approximately 250–1,000 µW (varies by model)	450 µW or more
Characteristics	Emphasizes compact size, high-density wiring, and simplified infrastructure	Large installed base and extensive peripheral equipment and operational know-how

Based on nominal specs alone, it’s hard to say Maybell would be an obvious constraint for quantum device evaluation. Maybell’s Fridge series advertises base temperatures below 10 mK and cooling power of 12–14 µW or more at 20 mK, which overlaps with the Bluefors LD450’s spec of below 10 mK and 14 µW or more. Meanwhile, Bluefors has over 1,400 dilution refrigerators in operation worldwide and a mature surrounding ecosystem covering wiring, measurement equipment, and maintenance. The differences with Maybell are more likely to appear in aspects that don’t show up on spec sheets: long-term uptime, noise, reproducibility between units, and maintainability.

This becomes an important consideration for Diraq. If the company pursues the scale it has stated—150,000 physical qubitsphysical qubitsPhysical Qubit / Physical QubitIndividual qubits that are physically created and manipulated on a quantum processor. They are also used to form logical qubits.QI NoteA large number of physical qubits does not by itself indicate practical computational capability. Error rates, connectivity, and the number of physical qubits required per logical qubit are also important. by 2029 and over 2 million by 2031—measuring a few high-performing devices in a lab will not be sufficient. A system is needed to repeatedly cool and measure large numbers of silicon devices, capture variability and yield, and feed that data back into manufacturing. At that stage, measurement throughputthroughputThroughput / ThroughputA metric indicating the amount of work that can be processed per unit time. In quantum computing, it represents how quickly circuits or jobs can be repeatedly executed, among other things.QI NoteThe definition and units of throughput vary between companies and systems. When comparing, check not only the raw number of executions but also conditions such as circuit size, accuracy, and wait times. and uptime matter more than ‘‘how many mK’’ the fridge reaches.

Therefore, the RQL move should be seen less as a direct technical step toward 150,000 qubitsqubitsQubit / Quantum Bit / QubitThe basic unit of information in a quantum computer. It can represent not only 0 or 1 but also a quantum state that is a superposition of them.QI NoteHaving more qubits does not necessarily mean higher performance. Error rates, connectivity, coherence time, and the number of logical qubits are also important. and more as a strategic move by Diraq to increase device-evaluation capacity near U.S. national labs, government programs, and shared research infrastructure, with mass-production considerations in mind. Going forward, it will be important not only to confirm headcount and investment in the lab but also to determine how many devices can be continuously evaluated on Maybell equipment and how effectively that data will drive improvements in Diraq’s CMOS-compatible manufacturing process.

NETWORKSee the industry network around Diraq →

Related articles

• Riverlane to open U.S. headquarters in Maryland, partners with UMD on quantum error correction
• IonQ and CMC Microsystems sign MOU to expand use of Canada’s quantum cloud
• QuEra and HPE explore integration of fault-tolerant quantum computers with HPC on a Cray-based on-premises model

Source

Read the original announcement