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Short abstract:

How are the people developing quantum materials reconciling the promises of their technologies with the origins of the materials they use? We look at the story of tantalum qubits and niobium cables in quantum technologies to consider this question.

Long abstract:

The promises of quantum technologies are built on quantum materials. In the “quantum for good” discussion, it seems reasonable to wonder whether the sourcing of these materials is aligned with the transformational hopes that surround QT. As a case study, two minerals used in quantum materials will be reviewed: tantalum and niobium. In 2023, Google and Yale published results in Nature showing a dramatic increase in quantum error correction by using tantalum transmon qubits (Sivak 2023), but the celebration of this QT breakthrough did not mention that tantalum is a regulated conflict mineral (IEA). Superconducting coaxial cables connect quantum processors, and niobium titanium is a common material used in these cables (Kjaergaard 2020). Niobium deposits in southern Brazil currently source over 80% of global niobium and should meet production needs for 200-plus years. And yet, there is increasing political pressure to explore niobium deposits in the Amazon (Siqueira-Gay 2020). The ways in which quantum materials scientists grapple with this potentially high-risk relationship between technological development and mineral extraction will be presented.

1. Sivak, V. V., et al. “Real-time quantum error correction beyond break-even”. Nature. 2023. 616. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05782-6.

2. IEA. “Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.” URL: iea.org/policies/16713-dodd-frank-wall-street-reform-and-consumer-protection-act

3. Kjaergaard, M. “Superconducting qubits: current state of play.” Annu. Rev. Condens. Matter Phys. 2020. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-conmatphys-031119-050605

4. Siqueira-Gay, J. “Keep the Amazon niobium in the ground.” Environmental Science & Policy. 2020. 111. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.05.012