Microsoft recently announced Majorana 1, the world's first quantum processor powered by topological qubits, marking a major milestone in quantum computing. Quantum computers have the potential to revolutionize science and society, but only if they meet the scale and reliability requirements. Microsoft has made rapid progress in this area.
Majorana 1: Topological qubit-driven quantum processor
Majorana 1 is the world's first quantum processor powered by topology cores, designed to scale the number of qubits on a single chip to one million. Topological qubits are a new material and engineering technique that enables small, fast, and digitally controlled qubits.
Topological superconductors: a breakthrough in new materials
The Microsoft team's recent breakthrough is the world's first topological conductor, a revolutionary material that allows us to create topological superconductivity, a new state of matter that previously existed only in theory. By combining indium arsenide (semiconductor) and aluminum (superconductor) and regulating the magnetic field at temperatures close to absolute zero, these devices form topological superconducting nanowires with Majorana zero mode (MZM).
Storage and retrieval of quantum information
MZM is the basic building block of qubits that stores quantum information through "parity", i.e., the parity of the number of electrons in a nanowire. In conventional superconductors, electrons move in pairs and without resistance, whereas in topological conductors, unpaired electrons are shared by MZM pairs, making them invisible to the environment, thus protecting quantum information.
To read this hidden quantum information, Microsoft uses a digital switch to connect the two ends of the nanowires with the quantum dots. A quantum dot is a tiny semiconductor device that stores electrical charge. By measuring changes in the charge retention capacity of quantum dots, Microsoft was able to read the quantum state of the nanowires.
Pictured: Microsoft unveils Majorana 1, the world's first topological qubit-driven quantum processor
Quantum computing with digital precision control
This reading technique makes it possible to perform calculations by means of measurements. Conventional quantum computing requires the rotation of quantum states at precise angles, which requires complex analog control signals. Microsoft's measurement method simplifies quantum error correction (QEC) by activating the connection and disconnection of quantum dots from nanowires through simple digital pulses.
From physics to engineering
Microsoft showcased the core building blocks of quantum information encoded in MZM, protected by topology, and processed through measurements. The next step is to build a scalable architecture around a single-qubit device, called a tetron. Microsoft's roadmap systematically leads to scalable QEC, with the ultimate goal of enabling practical quantum computing at scale.
DARPA Endorsement
The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected Microsoft as one of the final phase participants in its US2QC program, signaling the recognition of Microsoft's roadmap in building fault-tolerant quantum computers based on topological qubits.
Unlock the potential of quantum
Microsoft's goal is to build a quantum computer that can drive scientific discovery and solve real-world problems. Through a new agreement with DARPA, Microsoft is committing to building fault-tolerant prototypes based on topological qubits in years, not decades, taking a critical step toward utility-scale quantum computing.
In conclusion, Microsoft's Majorana 1 quantum processor and topological qubit technology demonstrate the enormous potential of quantum computing to solve the most complex problems of the moment.
