Raw material from the stars: High-purity silicon for the quantum computers of the future - Dr Owen C. Ernst in conversation

In the future, thousands of years of computing processes could be completed in just a few minutes. The key to this are quantum computers - revolutionary machines that work with the laws of quantum mechanics and enable a completely new dimension of data processing. At the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), intensive research is being conducted into a key material that is indispensable for this technology: isotopically pure silicon 28.

A raw material from outer space - produced in Lusatia

Silicon occurs in nature in various isotopes. Silicon 28 is one of these isotopes and has special properties that make it ideal for the construction of quantum chips, above all its lack of nuclear spin. "We really want to have 100 per cent or almost 100 per cent of silicon 28, as you would see it in space directly after the supernova. And that's what we're working towards,"explains Dr Owen C. Ernst, head of the HoCHQuant research project at BTU. "The problem: high-purity silicon 28 only exists in relevant quantities in space, namely as a product of cosmic processes in exploding stars. On Earth, it is present as a mixture with other isotopes. Our goal is to produce it in its pure form."

Technological challenge and pioneering work at BTU

According to Dr Owen, the production of pure silicon 28 is highly complex. It must first be produced as a gas (silane), which must never come into contact with other isotopes. "Only a few research locations in Germany have the expertise to work with these substances. The BTU in Senftenberg is one of these few locations, " he emphasises in the exclusive BTU video interview.

Thanks to an innovative and patented process, the team has already succeeded in producing the first gram quantities of high-purity silicon 28. The next steps are now to scale up the process to industrially usable quantities in order to meet the increasing demand from the quantum industry.

Quantum computers and their use in drug development

In contrast to normal computers, which calculate with ones and zeros, quantum computers use so-called qubits, according to Ernst, which enable many calculations at once. This enables them to solve extremely difficult problems much faster than conventional computers. Quantum computers could have a revolutionary impact on the pharmaceutical industry, for example, in particular in the development of new drugs. "If the plans all materialise in this way, then the computing time of many years, perhaps thousands of years, can actually be realised within a few minutes in the search for drugs. The computer then works on a lock-and-key principle, i.e. it looks at which active substance can really interact with which body cells."

This enormous speed advantage could drastically accelerate the research and development of new active ingredients and help to find effective drugs for diseases more quickly, which previously required lengthy test series.

A future market worth billions

A kilogramme of silicon 28 currently costs around one million euros - a price that reflects the high cost of production. However, the market for quantum computers is set to grow rapidly in the coming years: according to estimates, the industry could be worth 450 billion euros by 2040."If only 1-5 per cent of the technology costs are attributable to the material, that already means huge economic potential," says Dr Ernst.

Why Lusatia is the perfect location

According to Ernst, Lusatia is proving to be the ideal location for research and production. In addition to the expertise of the BTU, the region has an established infrastructure for chemical processes, industrial raw material production and safety standards. "Not only are the scientific foundations in place here, but also tried and tested cooperation with industry and authorities," emphasises Dr Ernst.