Microsoft has changed the computing landscape with their newest innovation – Majorama 1, the world’s first quantum chip. Imagine a computer that could solve a puzzle in minutes, that a traditional supercomputer would take days to figure out. The new quantum chip from Microsoft could soon make this sci-fi thought a reality. The Majorama 1 is being hyped as the new state of matter, but there is a still a bit of confusion regarding what it is, why it’s important, and why we should be excited. Personally, I always thought that quatum computing was a few decades out, but it looks like we are already on the cusp of seeing the first quantum chip in action.

I spent the last couple of days readig up about the Microsoft Majorana 1, and in this article, I am going to share everything that I know about the new state of matter that Microsoft has introduced to the world. Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about the Majorana 1 Quantum chip.

What is Microsoft Majorama 1?

Traditional computers, you know, the one you are using to read this article, uses bits. Well, if you don’t bits are basically 0s and 1s that basically control every operation that goes on in your computer. Even the simple click of a button is translated into a string of 0s and 1s, because that is what your computer understands. Each bit can be either 0 or 1 at any given point (remember this).

Quantum computers on the other hand, work on something known as qubits. Unlike normal bits, qubits can be 0, 1 or both 0 and 1 at the same time. This makes qubits a lot more capable at solving complicated problems in record time. However, the only catch is that these qubits are very tricky to handle. Even a simple spike in system heat can cause them to go berserk and give you the wrong output.

Apparently, Microsoft was apparently aware of this quirk and worked on it for 20 long years. Through their lengthy research, they realised that in order to make these quantum computers stable in operation, they needed to make new kinds of qubits that are not as random and finnicky. But, to do that, they had to change the rules of science. And so, after revising their science lessons, and channeling their inner Tony Stark, the mad scienctists at Microsoft came up with an all new state of matter!!

 

 

A NEW State of Matter?

Yes, Microsoft has created something that called a ‘topoconductor’, which is neither solid, nor liquid, nor gas (Expect a bonus chapter in science textbooks going forward). So, how did they pull this off?

To create the topoconductor, Microsoft took Indium Arsenide, mixed it with Aluminium, and cooled it down to the lowest temeperature possible. After this, they basically used magnetic fields to tweak the necessary properties. The resultant particles were named Majorana particles, which are basically qubits that are not traditioal qubits. They are way more robust and way less prone to malfunctions.

Why should you care?

Ok, you may be wondering – this sounds cool and all, but why should I care about this? How does this new technology, or new state of matter affect me?

Good question, and I asked myself the same question when I was readig up about this. But you need to look at the bigger picture. If Microsoft achieves its target of scaling the Majorana 1 to a million qubits, the next generation consumer PCs can achieve things in record time. For example, doctors could find out new medicines in days instead of months or years.

This technology has the potential revolutionise computing (personal and commercial), and I am all for it.

Where things stand

Microsoft has touted that they could make this technology a viable product in a matter of years and not decades, but there are some internal reports that suggest otherwise. The current iteration of Majorana 1 is a baby step for the company, but the have been at it for 20 years, which means they are invested to take this all the way.

I have also heard rumblings that the tech giant is in talks with the DARPA, to make the Majorana 1 a reality by 2033, which is 8 years from now, which, all things considered is ambitious, and highly optimistic. But, if they pull it off before anyone else, they will go down in history and change computing forever.