Imagine a certain type of computer that could solve problems in seconds as opposed to today’s supercomputers that would take a septillion years to solve. That is what quantum computing is all about – a new type of computing that leverages quantum mechanics to solve problems that would take traditional computers a very long time to solve. This type of computing uses quantum bits (qubits) instead of using the regular bits that represent 0 and 1 – qubits can be both 0 and 1 at the same time.
After a decadeslong quantum arms race with Google’s Willow Quantum Chip and IBM 1,121-qubit Condor processor, Microsoft has released its Majorana 1 chip.
Google’s Willow, with 105 quantum bits, demonstrated a below-threshold quantum error correction that allows for more stable and reliable quantum processes. This achievement, alongside IBM’s 1,121-qubit Condor processor and the modular Quantum System, served as stepping stones for the work Microsoft is now building on. Together, they are all creating a more solid foundation for the advances to come in quantum computing. But we might have a breakthrough in the name of the Majorana 1 chip.
The Majorana 1 chip is powered by a new topological core architecture, making it the first of its kind. The topoconductor (aka topological superconductor) is a kind of material that can create a new state of matter that is not solid, liquid, or gas but only a topological state, as explained by Microsoft in their report.
In an X post made by the chairman and CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, he emphasizes that “the qubits created with topoconductors are faster, more reliable, and smaller. They are 1/100th of a millimeter, meaning we now have a clear path to a million-qubit processor.”
“Imagine a chip that can fit in the palm of your hand yet is capable of solving problems that even all the computers on Earth today combined could not!” Nadella further describes.
According to the report, the introduction of this chip will make quantum computers more “capable of solving meaningful, industrial-scale problems in years, not decades.” It is important to note that this landmark that comes after two decades of research could effectively have an impact in industries such as cryptography, material discovery, and even healthcare – industries in which traditional computers are unable to solve their unique problems.
However, quantum computing can. An instance provided by Microsoft is this: “They (quantum computing) could help solve the difficult chemistry question of why materials suffer corrosion or cracks. This could lead to self-healing materials that repair cracks in bridges or airplane parts, shattered phone screens, or scratched car doors.”
“Enzymes, a kind of biological catalyst, could be harnessed more effectively in healthcare and agriculture, thanks to accurate calculations about their behavior that only quantum computing can provide. This could lead to breakthroughs helping to eradicate global hunger: boosting soil fertility to increase yields or promoting sustainable growth of foods in harsh climates,” Microsoft adds.
In a paper published in Nature, Microsoft researchers explain how they were able to create and measure topological qubit’s exotic quantum properties. They built a tiny device using a special superconducting nanowire combined with quantum dots – nanoscale structures that act like tiny sensors.
This setup allows them to quickly and accurately detect a property called “fermion parity,” which is a key indicator that the qubits are in the right state for robust quantum computing. This system of measurement and detection can be done in just a few microseconds with an error rate as low as 1%.
Microsoft’s breakthrough – in their new Majorana 1 chip – highlights a major leap in making quantum computers more practical. This is due to the special kind of particle called “Majorana fermion” that was used to build more stable qubits.
These particles help protect the qubits from errors – a persistent challenge in quantum computing – and this could be key to making industrial use of quantum machines sooner rather than later.
