Researchers from Microsoft have developed a novel quantum computing chip utilizing a specific class of materials designed to harness a newly discovered phase of matter. This advancement might allow scientists to create a single chip containing millions of dependable qubits far earlier than anticipated — potentially within just a few years instead of several decades.
The new
quantum processing unit
The (QPU) named “Majorana 1” is an eight-qubit experimental chip constructed using the world’s premier type of material—a topological conductor, also referred to as a topoconductor. This material has the capability to achieve the ‘topological’ phase of matter and utilize the principles governing this state.
quantum mechanics
Under specific circumstances, to handle the binary data of computing through a quantum computer.
The novel kind of qubit, referred to as a “topological qubit,” boasts stability, compactness, lower energy consumption, and greater scalability compared to a qubit constructed from traditional materials.
superconducting metal
—the most frequently utilized type of qubit in
quantum computers
created by firms like
Google
,
IBM
, and Microsoft itself.
We stepped back and thought, ‘Alright, let’s create a transistor fit for the quantum era. What characteristics should it possess?’,
Chetan Nayak
, Microsoft Technical Fellow and UC Santa Barbara Physics Professor stated in an interview.
statement
And that’s essentially how we arrived at this point—our novel materials stack, with its specific qualities and crucial specifics, has made possible a new type of qubit and consequently shaped our whole system design.
Related:
Google researchers assert that a quantum simulation milestone will result in discoveries unattainable for even the most advanced supercomputers currently available.
The creation of this quantum processing unit became feasible once researchers, for the first time, utilized the architecture to conclusively detect and manage a mysterious subatomic particle known as the “Majorana fermion,” also referred to as the “Majorana zero mode” (MZM). This particle was initially proposed by mathematician Ettore Majorana.
Ettore Majorana
in 1937.
Scientists have earlier attempted to generate Majorana fermions for utilization.
for a novel type of quantum computing
Explorations of the Majorana Fermion and Its Properties
suggested application in quantum computers
cover several years, including a
announced the finding of the particle in 2012
and in
April 2024
. Scientists in
June 2023
Additionally, they released research detailing the identification of the topological state of matter.
Majorana’s hypothesis suggested that a particle might serve as its own antiparticle. This implies that it could be feasible to merge two such particles, leading to their annihilation with an enormous burst of energy, which typically occurs, or allowing them to remain stable upon interaction—setting the stage for storing quantum data effectively.
These subatomic particles do not naturally occur in nature; therefore, to bring them into existence, researchers at Microsoft needed to achieve significant advancements in materials science, manufacturing processes, and measuring techniques. Their findings—from a 17-year research effort—were detailed in a paper released on February 19 in a particular journal.
Nature
.
This is a ‘transistor of the quantum era.’
One of the key findings was the development of this particular topoconductor, which serves as the foundation for the qubit. The researchers constructed their topoconductor using a layered structure consisting of an indium arsenide semiconductor—commonly employed in technologies such as night vision goggles—and an aluminum superconductor.
The researchers required the appropriate blend of these elements to initiate the desired shift into the
a new class of topological states of matter
They also had to establish precise circumstances to accomplish this — specifically, extremely low temperatures.
absolute zero
Only then could they bring forth Majorana Zero Mode particles through their interaction with magnetic fields.
To create a single qubit measuring under 10 micrometers—considerably tinier than superconducting qubits—the researchers configured a series of nanowires into an ‘H’ layout, featuring two elongated topoconductive wires intersected at their centers via one superconducting wire. Subsequently, they generated four Majorana zero modes (MZMs) at each corner of the ‘H’ configuration by chilling the assembly and adjusting it using magnetic fields. Lastly, for gauging the output once the apparatus becomes functional, they linked the ‘H’-shaped setup with a semiconductor quantum dot—an entity akin to a miniature capacitor designed to hold electric charges.
Topological conductors vary from superconductors in their response to carrying an unpaired electron. In superconductors, electrons typically form pairs—referred to as Cooper pairs—with an uneven number of electrons necessitating significant energy to move into an excited state. This substantial energy gap between the ground state and the excited state forms the foundation for binary data representation (1s and 0s) within superconducting qubits.
Similar to superconductors, topoconductors utilize the existence or non-existence of an unpaired electron for representing the binary states (1s and 0s) in computational data. The distinctive feature here is that these materials have the ability to “mask” unpaired electrons through distributing them across pairs of electrons. Consequently, this process does not result in any discernible change in energy levels upon adding extra unpaired electrons into the system. As such, the stability of the qubits improves significantly from a physical standpoint, safeguarding quantum information effectively. Nonetheless, this characteristic simultaneously makes it more challenging to ascertain the precise quantum state of the qubit.
Here is where the quantum dot plays its role. Scientists send a solitary electron from the quantum dot into one end of the wire, passing through two Majorana zero modes (MZMs), emerging at the opposite end. When they expose the quantum dot to microwaves during this process, the reflected signal bears information about the quantum state of the nanowire.
The precision of this measurement stands around 99%, as mentioned by the researchers in their study. They pointed out that electromagnetic radiation serves as an instance of an outside element causing errors roughly every millisecond. However, they stated that such occurrences are infrequent, suggesting that the built-in protection within the advanced processor model effectively blocks most radiations from interfering.
The journey to a million qubits
The process involves demonstrating a novel state of matter, which can be intricate, but subsequent steps are quite straightforward. The concept essentially tessellates. This simplified design framework suggests a quicker route to expansion,
Krysta Svore
Microsoft’s lead research manager stated in the announcement.
Swore introduced a novel qubit design known as the “Topological Core.” This innovation marks an initial stride toward developing functional 1-million-qubit quantum computers—comparing its significance to transitioning from vacuum tube-based computing to transistor-driven systems.
the 20th century
.
The researchers explained in their study that this advancement is due to the reduced dimensions and superior performance of the qubits, coupled with how easily they can be scaled as the qubits arrange themselves akin to tiles.
In the next few years, the scientists plan to build a single chip with a million physical qubits, which will, in turn, lead to useful scientific breakthroughs in fields like medicine, materials science and our understanding of nature that would be impossible to make using the
fastest supercomputers
.
The quantum chip doesn’t function independently; instead, it operates within an environment that includes a dilution refrigerator for maintaining ultra-low temperatures, a mechanism for controlling logic operations, and software capable of interfacing with traditional computing systems and AI technologies. Researchers noted that enhancing these components to support larger-scale applications could require several more years of study. However, significant progress might accelerate this process through additional discoveries.
These materials must align precisely. A high number of imperfections within the layered structure can destroy your qubit,” Svore stated in the release. “Paradoxically, this difficulty is exactly why we require a quantum computer—understanding such materials is extremely challenging. Once available at scale, a quantum computer would enable us to forecast materials with superior characteristics for constructing future generations of quantum computers.
