By creating a new state of matter, Microsoft’s engineers have ensured their quantum computer is truly one-of-a-kind.
Everyone is fixated on the race for artificial intelligence dominance. Few, however, are taking the quest for quantum supremacy seriously. They should not lose sight of this—especially because Microsoft has just made what they claim to be a significant breakthrough in the mission to be the leader of the quantum computing revolution.
Microsoft’s “Majorana 1” Quantum Chip
It’s called “Majorana 1,” and Microsoft says it is the world’s first Quantum Processing Unit (QPU) powered by what’s known as a topological core, which is designed to scale to a million qubits on a single chip. And the chip in question—what Microsoft calls a “topoconductor,” short for topological conductor—can fit into the palm of your hand.
The “Majorana 1” device gets its name from “Majorana Zero Modes” (MZMs). An MZM is a unique quantum particle that exists at the edges of certain materials (such as what the Majorana 1 is made of). They must exist in a state of absolute zero to operate. What’s more, they allow for rapid processing of highly complex problems at a very low error rate.
That’s the key aspect of quantum computing that people don’t seem to understand. It’s the speed of the processing. Quantum computers can solve highly complex problems very quickly. Specifically, it can solve the kinds of complex problems that traditional supercomputers either cannot solve or would take far too long to resolve.
Understanding the Physics
Quantum computers work on an entirely different level of physics than do conventional computers.
Classical computers operate on binary bits. The quantum computer, however, works according to “quantum bits” (or “qubits”). Whereas binary bits can either be one or zero, a qubit can exist in multiple states. In other words, that zero and one can exist either separately, as one or zero, or—and here’s where things get weird for most people—the zero or one can exist simultaneously.
This is where you start to see people on The Joe Rogan Experience talking about quantum computing being the gateway for peering into multiple universes. That’s because, in order to quickly resolve a complex problem set a quantum computer is presented with, the quantum computer essentially looks at all possibilities and then seeks a resolution based on the best probable result.
And this is where things get dicey for the scientists working on quantum computers. Ordinarily, quantum computers have a high error rate.
The Microsoft team that has developed Majorana 1 says they’ve created a device that has reliable “quantum error correction” (QEC). Essentially, Microsoft claims that they’ve created a fault-tolerant quantum computer. Being fault tolerant is key.
Majorana-1 can continue functioning accurately even though occasional errors in qubits and gates will arise. One of the ways that Microsoft has ensured their new system has a relatively low QEC (around one percent error rate, which the engineers think they can reduce more over time), is via digital control that allows for computer engineers “to manage the large numbers of qubits needed for real-world applications.”
Low Error Rates
Microsoft claims to have achieved topoconductor superconductivity—meaning they’ve created an entirely new class of material, which is what separates the Majorana-1 from other quantum computers today. This new material is what allows Microsoft to have a digitally controlled, small, and very fast qubit running its quantum computer.
By creating a new state of matter, Microsoft’s engineers have ensured their quantum computer is truly one-of-a-kind. That, in turn, likely means that Microsoft (at least for now) has quantum supremacy over its rivals.
Microsoft’s Quantum Chip: A Technological Breakthrough
Quantum computing is suddenly all over the news. That’s likely because the tech sector is increasingly consumed with the objective of developing artificial intelligence. For AI to work well, it needs massive amounts of energy, data, and processing power. Quantum computers will give AI the processing power it needs to be truly dominant, if the engineers can make quantum computing viable and scalable. It appears that Microsoft has taken the first step towards doing that.
Of course, there are detractors. Some experts argue that it’s all hype—not just what Microsoft is saying but what many of these quantum computing firms are claiming to have achieved in their research and development.
DARPA’s Role
The fact that the Microsoft program was “part of the final phase of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computer (US2QC) program,” as reported by Microsoft itself, means that this is not just a baseless claim meant to generate buzz for the tech company.
After all, DARPA is the group that has had its hand in some of the country’s most significant scientific and technological breakthroughs (most notably the Internet).
Lastly, the role of DARPA should not be overlooked because of the obvious national security implications (and complications) that quantum computing poses. Notably, modern encryption techniques can be easily hacked by quantum computers—as China’s quantum computer alarmingly demonstrated recently. Further, if paired to AI, an effective and scalable quantum computer could be lethal on the future battlefield.
Don’t forget, too, that, as cryptocurrencies are taking off, some security analysts fear that quantum computers could hack the blockchain technology that undergirds cryptocurrencies.
All these developments point to not only a revolution of AI, but a concomitant revolution in quantum computing—something that Microsoft itself has said they are spearheading.
So, even amid the other revolutionary advances in technology that have come to the fore this decade, keep your eye out for quantum computing. It’s coming sooner than most want to admit.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a Senior Fellow at the Center for the National Interest, and a contributor at Popular Mechanics, consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
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