Copyright infringement not intended

Picture Courtesy: Hindustan Times

Context:

Microsoft’s recent claim of a quantum computing breakthrough—centered on its Majorana 1 chip—has sparked excitement and skepticism in the tech world.  

What Did Microsoft Achieve?

Stable Qubits via Topological Superconductors

Microsoft claims to have created topological qubits using a novel material called a topoconductor (a hybrid of indium arsenide and aluminum).

These qubits are encoded in Majorana zero modes, a theoretical quantum state long predicted but never observed until now. This approach aims to reduce errors and improve scalability.

Digital Pulses for Error Correction

Unlike traditional analog qubits, Majorana 1 uses digital pulses to control qubits, simplifying error correction and enabling more reliable operations.

Scalability to 1 Million Qubits

Microsoft asserts its design could scale to 1 million qubits within years, a leap from today’s 1,000-qubit systems to unlock practical applications in fields like medicine, chemistry, and AI.

Significance

Error Reduction

Topological qubits are inherently more resilient to external disturbances (e.g., temperature, vibrations), a major hurdle in quantum computing. Fewer errors mean fewer qubits are needed for error correction, making large-scale systems feasible.

Faster Timeline

Microsoft claims its approach could shrink the timeline for a functional quantum computer from decades to years, rivaling rivals like Google and IBM.

Industrial Impact

A million-qubit system could revolutionize industries by solving problems intractable for classical computers, such as drug discovery, climate modeling, and financial optimization.

How Does It Work?

Topological Superconductors

Microsoft fused semiconductors and superconductors to create a topological superconductor, enabling Majorana zero modes. These modes store data in a way that resists external interference, reducing errors.

Measurement-Based Design

The chip uses quantum dots to measure qubit states with high precision, avoiding the recalibration issues of analog systems.

Potential Impact

Quantum computers could train AI models faster and with less energy, accelerating advancements in natural language processing, image recognition, and robotics.

Drug discovery could be revolutionized by simulating molecular interactions at quantum scales, reducing trial-and-error in pharmaceutical R&D.

Quantum computing may disrupt encryption, cybersecurity, and financial systems, requiring industries to adapt quickly.

Must Read Articles: 

Majorana 1

NYT v/s OpenAI and Microsoft

Source: 

INDIAN EXPRESS