Microsoft recently unveiled Majorana 1, the world’s first quantum processor powered by topological cubes, marking a significant advancement in the development of practical quantum computers. This groundbreaking achievement allows for the scaling up of quantum computing to a million cubes on a single chip, thanks to the use of top-conductors, a novel class of materials.
A study by Microsoft researchers, published in the journal Nature, showcases the creation of a protected topological qubit. Leveraging Majorana zero modes (MZM), previously only theoretical, engineers were able to control these quasi-particles, enabling stable storage and processing of quantum information.
Topological qubits, unlike traditional qubits, are immune to external interference at the hardware level, significantly reducing error rates. Information is stored using charge parities, with state manipulation achieved through quantum dot and microwave reflection for accurate changes detection with minimal errors.
Microsoft has also outlined a roadmap for a fault-tolerant quantum computer, with plans to build quantum devices based on “tetrons” – structures featuring two parallel topological channels with MZMs. The company aims to scale up the system and implement quantum error correction algorithms in the future.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has expressed interest in Microsoft’s quantum developments, selecting the company to participate in the final phase of the US2QC program. This collaboration aims to expedite the creation of practical quantum computations, with Microsoft set to prototype a fault-resistant quantum computer in the coming years.
Microsoft’s quantum technologies have the potential to revolutionize various industries, from advanced materials to eco-friendly chemistry and bioengineering. Complex calculations that currently take years and billions of dollars could be completed in seconds with a quantum computer. Microsoft believes its approach will lead to practical quantum supremacy sooner than anticipated.