Interlune Develops Cryogenic Technology to Expand Helium-3 Supply for Quantum Computing

July 20, 2026 - 20:23

A company called Interlune has announced a new cryogenic process designed to increase the availability of helium-3, a rare isotope that is becoming critical for next-generation quantum computing systems. The technology, named Cold Capture, is able to extract helium-3 from standard helium supplies and purify it to 99 percent purity.

Helium-3 is a non-radioactive isotope that is essential for operating dilution refrigerators, which cool quantum processors to near absolute zero. Without this extreme cold, the delicate qubits inside quantum computers cannot maintain their quantum states long enough to perform calculations. However, natural helium-3 is extremely scarce on Earth. Most of the world's supply comes from the decay of tritium in nuclear weapons stockpiles, and that source is steadily declining.

Interlune's approach uses cryogenic distillation to separate the tiny fraction of helium-3 found in commercial helium gas. Traditional helium extraction methods often waste this isotope because it is present in such small amounts. The company claims its Cold Capture system can recover it efficiently and at scale, turning a previously discarded byproduct into a usable resource.

The timing of the announcement aligns with a surge in demand from the quantum computing industry. Several major tech firms and research labs are building larger quantum systems, each requiring more helium-3 for cooling. Industry analysts have warned that without new sources of the isotope, the cost could rise sharply or supply could become a bottleneck for quantum development.

Interlune has not disclosed specific production volumes or pricing, but it stated that the technology is ready for commercial deployment. The company is now working with helium suppliers and quantum hardware manufacturers to integrate Cold Capture into existing supply chains. If successful, the process could help stabilize a market that currently depends on aging government stockpiles.