Microsoft's Majorana 2 topological quantum chip is released, qubit reliability increased by a thousand times

Microsoft (Microsoft) released a new generation of topological quantum chip Majorana 2 on the 3rd. Through a new material stacking design, it has successfully improved the reliability of the qubit (Qubit) to 1,000 times that of the previous generation. It is expected to achieve the goal of commercially valuable and scalable quantum computers by the end of 2029, shortening the original planning timetable by about half.

Quantum computers are regarded as an important milestone in the next generation of computing technology, but qubits are susceptible to external interference and lose their quantum state, which has always been a major technical bottleneck facing the industry.

The Majorana 2 released by Microsoft this time uses a new material architecture, which greatly extends the time that qubits can maintain the quantum state, up to 20 seconds on average, and even up to 1 minute in some cases. Compared with the current industry, which mostly calculates the life of qubits in microseconds, this progress is described by Microsoft as "the battery life of a mobile phone has been greatly improved from the original one day to a level that can be used for nearly three years on a single charge."

With higher reliability, extremely fast computing speeds (operations measured in microseconds), and tiny qubit designs of only about one hundredth of a millimeter, Microsoft believes that it has gradually established a development path towards scalable quantum computers, and expects to achieve commercially viable quantum computers by the end of 2029.

To further improve qubit stability, Majorana 2 also redesigned the material stack. Majorana 1, released last year, is regarded as an important breakthrough in the field of quantum computing. The key lies in the "topological superconductor" made of special materials, which can create a new state of matter and further make quantum computing more stable.

In order to further optimize this technology, the Microsoft team re-examined and adjusted the material stacking design. In terms of material selection, the original Majorana used aluminum as a superconductor, while Majorana 2 switched to "lead superconductor." Microsoft pointed out that lead is often used to protect the human body and equipment from radiation in medical and industrial environments; and in quantum computers, lead superconductors help protect fragile qubits from cosmic interference that may cause instability.

Microsoft believes that when scalable quantum computers come out, in addition to solving major challenges such as global health, food supply, energy production, and sustainable development, it may also accelerate the development of new drugs and new materials research, bringing new possibilities to scientific research and industrial innovation.