Freie Universität Berlin

Understanding quantum phenomena and enabling tomorrow’s technologies

Why does future technology need quantum physics?

Tomorrow’s digital technologies must combine higher performance with dramatically lower energy consumption. At the same time, the demand for computing power is growing rapidly – in particular due to advances in artificial intelligence. Researchers working in the “Quantum Scale” strategic research field are studying physical processes at extreme scales in order to find solutions to these challenges. They study novel materials only a few nanometers in size and on timescales that are shorter than a billionth of a second. Only a deep understanding of these quantum mechanical phenomena can enable fundamentally new technological concepts.

What actually happens at the atomic scale?

Physicists investigate how electrons and other quantum particles behave and interact with one another in experiments and through theoretical work. They also develop methods to observe and precisely control ultrafast processes. The goal is to gain a better understanding of the fundamental processes of nature and to use this knowledge to enable new approaches to information processing.

What technological advances might emerge from this research?

This research opens up new possibilities for quantum computers, secure quantum communication, and high precision quantum sensors. At the same time, researchers are developing concepts for quantum electronics that could enable significantly more energy-efficient technologies in the future. In this way, the research area connects fundamental science with the question of how advances in physics can shape future technological innovation and benefit society over the long term.