image courtesy Scitechdaily

When I heard about Majorana, I immediately did an image and definition search on Majorana. There’s a lot of great resources out there. This is a heavy topic, so I will share what I have discovered in my journey.

“A Majorana fermion is a theoretical particle that is its antiparticle. An antiparticle is a subatomic particle having the same mass as a given particle but opposite electric or magnetic properties. Every subatomic particle has a corresponding antiparticle, e.g., the positron has the same mass as the electron but an equal and opposite charge.”

Majorana fermions were first predicted by physicist Ettore Majorana in 1937, and these particles have unique properties convenient for quantum computing. Scientists at MIT have discovered Majorana fermions, particles that are their antiparticles, on the surface of gold. This statement alone intrigues me about how antiparticles can be related to quantum computing. But honestly, you had me at gold.

Microsoft is one of many companies that are exploring this technology.

The industry knows that quantum computing is the future and that Majorana could be a big step in the right direction. It’s a milestone in quantum computing because of the way it looks at computation, problem-solving, and innovation across industries that could be fundamentally changed.

I will use this blog to walk through quantum computing with curiosity about its meaning. But to be clear, this blog only touches the surface of this topic.

Let’s review terms associated with quantum computing, starting with quantum itself.

What is Quantum Computing?

This technology promises to solve complex problems much faster than traditional computers. Traditional computers often struggle with specific issues involving massive amounts of data or complex simulations. Traditional computers also use binary code (or bits) 0 and 1 for all calculations, data storage, and program running.

Quantum Computing uses qubits not bits. Here’s the notable comparison. A qubit, short for “quantum bit,” is the unit of information in quantum computing. Unlike a classical (or traditional) bit, which can be either 0 or 1, a qubit can be in a state of 0, 1, or both simultaneously due to a property called superposition. “Superposition is the principle in quantum mechanics where a particle or system can exist in multiple states simultaneously until it is measured or observed.” How’s that for a plot twist? Superposition is a HUGE edge in computing.

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What is Majorana 1?

The new quantum computing chip that Microsoft has introduced is called Majorana 1. By comparison, standard computing bits are either 0 or 1, but qubits can be in a state of quantum superposition, offering near-exponential speedup for many operations.

So how does one measure the speed of a quantum computer? It uses a unit of measurement called (CLOPS) “Circuit Layer of Operations Per Second” created by IBM. CLOPS is measured by how quickly a quantum processor can execute quantum circuits, representing the number of quantum operations performed per second; this metric considers both the quantum and classical components of the computing process. The image below is courtesy of Qkrishi.

I discovered an excellent infographic from CBInsights that visually explains the difference between Quantum and Classic Computing.

Computing bits, or binary digits, are the smallest unit of data a computer can process and store. It is the basic building block of all digital systems and communications.

What makes Majorana 1 special is that it uses topological qubits. These qubits are designed for topological quantum computing with materials that produce more stable and less error-prone qubits. This addresses a fix for one of the significant issues in quantum computing: the ability to maintain qubit coherence and avoid errors that the environment can introduce.

What Will Be the Impact of Majorana 1?

Majorana 1 and topological quantum computing can be applied to various industries. 

Key areas of Impact:

• Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare
• Climate Modeling and Sustainability
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Cryptography and Cybersecurity
• Supply Chain Optimization
  Quantum computing can improve algorithms by working with extensive data sets much faster than classical computer systems. It can potentially build advanced AI systems to solve problems currently impossible for humans.

Why is Majorana 1 Important?

The importance of Majorana 1 can be made clear from the following points:

1. Error Resistant Qubits

2. Scalability

3. A New Paradigm of Computing

4. Competitive Advantage

As quantum computing becomes available to the market, the companies and countries that invest in this technology will have a distinct advantage. At this moment, Microsoft’s progress with Majorana 1 has created some interesting discussions around quantum computing, but as with any technology, it is a race, so it’s anyone’s game. That is the beauty of this space.

Opportunities for Growth in Quantum Computing

As quantum computing continues to become a reality, some issues remain. Building a fully functional large-scale quantum computer requires further hardware, software, and error correction improvement. Furthermore, the technology is still in the developmental stage, and there is no foreseeable timeline for mainstream adoption.

Microsoft’s dedication to quantum computing through the creation of Majorana 1 indicates a step towards the quantum future of computing. I hope more companies enter this space to add more variety to the process and keep it from becoming a monopoly that would only serve a few. There is no reason why more companies can’t be on this journey into quantum computing.

As researchers continue to work on this technology, we can expect to see more breakthroughs in the future. Microsoft’s Majorana 1 quantum chip is not just a technological feat but a window into the future of computing.

With this chip, using topological qubits and Majorana fermions may be the beginning of new industries, problems to solve, and innovations.

The creation of Majorana 1 is a significant step towards achieving quantum computing. One might say the world is on the brink of a quantum revolution. We have the unique opportunity to see this story unfold; multiple ways to learn more are available and accessible. Stay tuned: Quantum computing is here to stay.

So many sources speak to Quantum Computing; a search engine keyword search will return much information. I am explicitly exploring foundation learnings to build my understanding as I go. This is so exciting, I hope you will join in the learnings too!

Readings that helped me learn more about Quantum Computing:

• Maciej Malinowski
• github.io
• github topics

Want to try out quantum computing? IBM has one of the most comprehensive sites for learning and testing quantum computing at no cost with its “open plan.” This is a discovery I highly recommend and is worth exploring.