Microsoft has unveiled its own quantum computing chip, following in the footsteps of Google and IBM.
On Wednesday, Microsoft announced the development of Majorana1, a quantum computing chip designed to address quantum errors and integration density limitations.
The palm-sized Majorana1 is based on Microsoft’s proprietary “Topological Core” architecture.
According to Microsoft, a new material called a “top conductor” transforms into a topological state when exposed to magnetic fields at cryogenic temperatures. This state is distinct from the traditional states of matter, such as solids, liquids, and gases. The material creates a new quantum particle called the “Majorana particle.”
These innovative materials and particles offer the potential to create ultra-small, ultra-fast, and highly stable qubits, which are the basic computational units of quantum computers.
Microsoft implemented this innovation by precisely stacking materials such as indium arsenide (a semiconductor) and aluminum at the atomic level. The company claims that its self-developed top conductor material resolves the challenges faced by existing chips, which were prone to errors due to their extreme sensitivity to environmental factors such as temperature and magnetic fields. This breakthrough is expected to enable stable quantum operations, accelerating the advent of quantum computing.
The Majorana1 chip is equipped with 8 qubits, the basic computational units in quantum computers. They are similar to bits in conventional computers.
Microsoft explained that they could potentially expand the number of qubits to one million in the future, a key metric for quantum computing performance.
The structure of the topoconductor consists of H-shaped aluminum nanowires. In each H-shaped structure, four Majorana particles form one qubit.
Unlike previous quantum computers, which required vast spaces like airplane hangars, this new quantum computer is designed to be compact enough to be installed in data centers.
The research findings were published in the scientific journal Nature after undergoing peer review. The paper details how Microsoft researchers precisely measured the unique quantum characteristics of topological qubits.
Microsoft envisions that a quantum computer with one million qubits can solve problems that current computers cannot, such as modeling complex molecular interactions.
A Microsoft representative stated that in an era where AI and quantum computing converge, anyone desiring to develop any material, molecule, or product will immediately receive a feasible answer.
