In a major development in the technology world, Microsoft has recently announced the launch of Majorana 1, a quantum chip that can largely boost the development of practical quantum computing. As per Microsoft, it is the first quantum processing unit in the world developed on a topological core. It is also powered by a newly discovered state of matter.
The company’s CEO Satya Nadella shares his joy on social media platform X, stating that, “Most of us grew up learning there are three main types of matter that matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Today, that changed.” According to him, the discovery was possible through topoconductors, which is a materials class that can lead to quantum computers. These computers are faster, reliable and smaller than current models.
Quantum computing has encountered a major hurdle due to the natural instability of qubits, which are vital for quantum computers. These qubits require extremely low temperatures for optimal functioning, yet errors still occur even in these conditions. Microsoft claims to have found a solution to these issues. The company’s novel method employs topoconductors to create a more stable environment for qubits, thereby improving their operational precision. In a recent announcement, Microsoft remarked, “This is a necessary milestone for quantum computers to provide transformative, real-world applications — such as decomposing microplastics into harmless substances or developing self-repairing materials for use in construction, manufacturing, or healthcare.”
To fully realize the potential of quantum computing, experts predict that chips must contain a minimum of one million qubits. Microsoft is confident that Majorana 1 represents progress in achieving this goal.
“The qubits created with topoconductors are faster, more reliable, and smaller. They are 1/100th of a millimetre, meaning we now have a clear path to a million-qubit processor,” Nadella explained.
Some experts are raising questions that Microsoft’s breakthrough is a game-changer just yet. Troy Nelson, Chief Technology Officer at Lastwall expressed happiness and caution at the same time. Lastwall is a cybersecurity firm focused on quantum-resilient technology.
“What they’ve done is they’ve creaS “Now we need to solve the production problems like economies of scale and bringing costs down. But I see what they produced here as a new road map.”
Microsoft is not the only company aiming for supremacy in quantum technology. In December, Google unveiled its quantum chip named Willow, which it asserted could complete a benchmark computation in less than five minutes—a process that would require billions of years for the fastest supercomputer currently available.
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