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Tara Lie : 24 February 2025 15:25
Microsoft has taken a significant step forward in the field of quantum computing with the launch of its first quantum processor: Majorana 1. Unlike most quantum chips that are based on electron-based qubits, this revolutionary processor exploits Majorana particles, a revolutionary development in the field.
At the World Governments Summit in Dubai last week, Google CEO Sundar Pichai compared quantum computing to artificial intelligence from a decade ago, highlighting its potential to reshape the future. Despite its promises, quantum computing remains one of the most complex challenges in modern science.
In a revolutionary announcement on Wednesday, Microsoft presented Majorana 1, a quantum processor that uses a new type of material called a topoconductor, or a topological superconductor.
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This allows the development and control of Majorana particles, which do not exist in nature but can be formed under specific conditions using superconductors and magnetic fields. The use of these particles is expected to greatly improve the stability and scalability of quantum computing.
Today’s quantum processors, including those made at Google, Intel and IBM, typically use electron-based qubits or superconducting circuits. Although these systems are promising, they require extensive error correction mechanisms to function reliably.
Microsoft’s approach, which uses topological qubits, introduces error resistance at the hardware level, significantly reducing the need for additional correction mechanisms.
“Whatever you’re doing in the quantum space needs to have a path to a million qubits. If it doesn’t, you’re going to hit a wall before you get to the scale at which you can solve the really important problems that motivate us.” Chetan Nayak, a technical fellow at Microsoft explains.
Microsoft claims that Majorana 1 is so advanced that it can be scaled up to one million qubits, while remaining compact enough to fit in the palm of a hand. A quantum computer with such capacity could exceed the combined power of all existing computers in the world.
Although Majorana 1 represents a remarkable scientific achievement, its commercial distribution is still years away. Microsoft researchers have spent more than 17 years developing this technology, and although they have successfully built a working prototype, further engineering work is needed before it can be widely adopted.
Microsoft claims that Majorana 1 will help to “make quantum computers capable of solving meaningful, industrial-scale problems in years, not decades”. However, the outlook on timing varies. Google CEO Sundar Pichai estimates that practical quantum computers could be available in five to ten years, while Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang believes it may still be decades away.
At present, quantum computing is similar to artificial intelligence a decade ago: an advanced technology but largely theoretical, mainly understood by researchers. As development progresses, its potential real-world applications become more and more tangible.
For the majority of people, quantum computing still seems far away, without any immediate impact on their daily lives. However, as progress continues, its influence could be profound.
Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionise industrial sectors. In medicine, it could accelerate the discovery of pharmaceuticals by simulating molecular interactions and chemicals in ways that classical computers are not able to. In environmental science, it could contribute to resolving the challenges of climate change by improving the efficiency of solar panels, optimising battery technology, and promoting carbon capture solutions.
Additionally, quantum computing is expected to transform artificial intelligence, rendering it more efficient, and capable of tackling complex problems such as forecasting natural disasters and optimising traffic systems in real time.
Tara Lie