After 17 years of research, Microsoft has finally developed the Majorana 1 chip, its first quantum computing processor based on a brand-new material and architecture, reports The Verge.
At the heart of a quantum computer are quantum bits (qubits), which handle data in a way similar to today’s binary bits but with significantly higher computational potential. Companies such as IBM, Microsoft, and Google have long tried to make qubits more stable, as they’re sensitive to disturbances that can cause errors or data loss.
With Majorana 1, up to a million qubits can fit on a single circuit, about the size of a desktop computer’s processor. Instead of using electrons for calculations, the chip utilizes the Majorana particle, first described by Italian physicist Ettore Majorana in 1937.
By developing what Microsoft calls the world’s first topoconductor, a new material that can both observe and control these particles, they’ve taken a big step towards creating more reliable qubits.
Microsoft researchers have described their findings in a scientific paper in Nature, detailing how they’ve developed topological qubits. Microsoft has created a new material combination of indium arsenide and aluminium and placed eight topological qubits on a chip. The goal is to scale up the technology to one million qubits.
If it comes to fruition, such a chip would enable more accurate simulations and contribute to scientific progress in fields including medicine and materials science. Quantum computing has long been seen as a potential revolution for these fields, and Microsoft sees its topoconductor as a crucial step forward towards that future.
“A million-qubit quantum computer is more than just a milestone — it’s a key to solving some of the world’s most difficult problems,” said Chetan Nayak, a technical expert at Microsoft. “Our path to usable quantum computing is clear. The technology is proven, and we believe our architecture is scalable. Through our new collaboration with DARPA, we are demonstrating our commitment to building a machine that can drive scientific discovery and solve real-world problems.”
“A million-qubit quantum computer isn’t just a milestone — it’s a gateway to solving some of the world’s most difficult problems,” said Chetan Nayak, a technical expert at Microsoft. “Our path to useful quantum computing is clear. The foundational technology is proven, and we believe our architecture is scalable. Our new agreement with DARPA shows a commitment to relentless progress toward our goal: building a machine that can drive scientific discovery and solve problems that matter.”