China develops new ultra-cold alloy that can reach -273°C without helium — could enable compact cooling for superconducting quantum chips, military equipment, and beyond

Scientists in China have created a new ultra-cold cooling technology using a rare-earth alloy that can reach temperatures near absolute zero without helium-3. This breakthrough could lead to compact cooling systems for superconducting quantum chips, military equipment, and space applications. The alloy, EuCo₂Al₉, enables a solid-state refrigeration module that can cool itself and other components efficiently using adiabatic demagnetization. This development is significant as it eliminates the need for scarce helium-3 in sub-kelvin cooling systems, potentially revolutionizing cryogenic applications like quantum computing. The Chinese Academy of Sciences has indicated that this alloy has the potential for mass production and practical implementation.