Context:
Microsoft recently announced the Majorana 1 chip in a bold gesture toward practical quantum computing, which they now claim remains “years, not decades” away. In fact, Microsoft is now in good company with Google and IBM, which have also made large strides in the area.
Highlights of Majorana 1
- Breakthroughs in Quantum Computing
- Quantum computers can solve problems exponentially faster than classical ones, with enormous applications in medicine, materials science, finance, and AI.
- The primary challenge is error prone qubits, which limit their practical use.
- What Is Special About Majorana 1?
- MS claims that the chip works more stably and is less error prone than current quantum architectures.
- It works with the Majorana fermion, that is, a theoretical subatomic particle proposed in the 1930s.
- If proven, this means we might have a fault tolerant quantum computer sooner than expected.
- Doubts and Outside Verification
- Physicist from Harvard Philip Kim called it an exciting development but some scientists have reservations.
- Experts stated that there is a need for more conclusive proof to verify that Majorana 1 performs as claimed.
Impact on Quantum Computing
- This specific instance can expedite further technologies in drug discovery, climate modeling, and cryptography.
- The suggestion from Microsoft of being “years, not decades” away from quantum advantage positions us for a possible technological revolution in the not too distant future.
Majorana 1 from Microsoft could serve as a ”game changer,” but its full possible performance remains uncertain due to www open source independent verification. Should that prove possible, Microsoft would then be placed in the forefront of the quantum computing race along with Google and IBM.
