The arena of quantum computing has seen a significant breakthrough with Microsoft researchers announcing a sizable development concerning Majorana Zero Modes. This newly discovered particle holds the potential to transform the world of quantum computing.
What led to this Discovery?
Microsoft devised a topological superconductor consisting of an aluminium Superconductor and an indium arsenide Semiconductor. The device passed multiple tests, including meticulous measurements and simulations. Consequently, it showed a high likelihood of hosting Majorana zero modes. The topological gap protocol and observation of the conductance peak have been identified as robust evidence for the existence of Majorana zero modes.
Understanding Majorana Zero Modes and Majorana Fermions
Fermions are the subatomic particles that constitute matter. In 1928, physicist Paul Dirac released the Dirac equation, leading to the prediction and subsequent discovery of antiparticles for each particle.
Physicist Ettore Majorana suggested the possibility of particles being their own antiparticles under certain conditions in 1937. These particles were named Majorana fermions honouring him, with neutrinos thought to be one type of Majorana fermions, awaiting experimental proof.
Majorana zero modes consider the quantum spin which is half-integer values and represent bound states of fermions that are their own antiparticles. Their unique attributes have made them a topic of research for over two decades, especially in relation to topological quantum computing.
Potential Advantages of Majorana Zero Modes in Computing
Majorana zero modes can potentially boost the robustness and computational superiority of Quantum Computers. While current quantum computers use individual electrons as qubits, which can easily fall into decoherence, Majorana zero modes, comprised of an electron and a hole, act as much more resilient qubits. Even when one part is disturbed, the entire qubit remains intact, protecting the encoded information.
Furthermore, they offer topological degeneracy that safeguards and recovers information from various topological properties without readily losing the encrypted data.
Ins and Outs of Quantum Computing
Quantum computing capitalizes on the principles of quantum physics to develop novel computation methods. It involves qubits which exist in a multidimensional state, unlike classic binary bits. The computational power of quantum computers enhances exponentially with the addition of each qubit, while traditional computers can only increase linearly.
Other inherent properties of quantum computing include superposition, entanglement, and interference. Superposition is the capacity of a quantum system to be in an array of states concurrently. Entanglement implies that a change in the state of one qubit instantaneously affects the other, irrespective of the distance. Interference highlights the capacity of elementary particles to cross their own path and alter its direction.
What is a Qubit?
In the context of quantum computing, a ‘qubit’ refers to the basic unit of quantum information. Instead of operating exclusively as a binary 0 or 1, like classical computer bits, qubits function in a multidimensional state allowing them to process more information simultaneously. Quantum Supremacy, therefore, relies on qubits to exploit the behaviour of matter on the atomic scale for superior computational capabilities.