Germanium-Tin Enables Faster Transistors for Quantum Computers

A group of researchers in Jülich has rediscovered the transistor material Germanium. This material played an important role as a semiconductor material for transistors during the early days of computers but was later replaced by silicon. The Germanium-Tin transistors developed by the researchers could, due to their promising properties, replace silicon once again and serve as a promising candidate for future high-performance chips.

The charge carriers in the material can move faster than in silicon or germanium, resulting in lower operating voltages required for the transistors’ functionality. This leads to reduced power consumption, which could lower the costs of large server centers and extend battery life in mobile devices. Additionally, Germanium-Tin is more resistant to cold temperatures than silicon. Therefore, these transistors could be well-suited for use in quantum computers, where operating temperatures are just above absolute zero.

Germanium-Tin transistors could also prove to be a useful component for optical data transmission. Transmitting information with light signals is significantly faster and more energy-efficient than transferring it through electrical pathways. A Germanium-Tin laser also developed by researchers in Jülich could be seamlessly integrated with the new transistor, creating an interface between electrical and optical data transmission.

Germanium thus holds a future in multiple areas. Investing in this technology metal offers the opportunity for attractive returns, including tax-free purchasing and tax-free gains after a year of holding.