Microsoft has made significant strides in quantum computing by building what it claims is “the world’s first quantum processor powered by topological qubits.” The company aims to create a scalable quantum computer within years, rather than decades, and has also developed a new state of matter called topoconductor. This achievement comes as Microsoft was recently chosen by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to explore under-explored approaches to quantum computing. The company’s Majorana 1 chip is part of a series of efforts by major players like IBM, Google, and Nokia Bell Labs to develop the fundamental mechanism required for quantum computers. This breakthrough requires precise engineering at the atomic level, making it an extremely challenging task.
Source: https://thedispatch.com/article/microsoft-quantum-computing-breakthrough-explained