Competition surrounding quantum computing is accelerating, with Microsoft (MS) following Google in unveiling its own developed quantum computing chip.
On the 19th (local time), MS announced it has developed the 'Majorana 1' quantum computing chip using its own developed 'topological superconductors' for the first time. MS noted that it will be able to expand the number of 'qubits,' which are considered the basic unit of quantum computing operations and a performance benchmark, to 1 million in the future.
Currently, major quantum computing corporations use superconductors to implement qubits, the basic operational units of quantum computers. Unlike conventional computers that process information as 'bits' of 0 or 1, quantum computers utilize qubits that exist in a state of superposition and entanglement, where 0 and 1 coexist simultaneously.
Quantum chips exhibit stronger computational capabilities with an increasing number of qubits. The 'Majorana 1' is equipped with 8 qubits and is designed to potentially accommodate over 1 million qubits. MS stated, "The plan to equip over 1 million qubits is seen as the starting point for 'commercialization of quantum computing,'" adding, "This chip development could lead to the realization of the quantum computing era within a few years."
Topological superconductors are materials that maintain stable phase relationships among particles even while the material's form changes, exhibiting superconductivity. Inside topological superconductors, 'Majorana particles' in a neutral state without charge are formed, which are robust against changes in the external environment and facilitate stable information processing.
Quantum computers are expected to solve humanity's challenges that existing supercomputers could not tackle, prompting global corporations to pursue technology development. Previously, Google unveiled its own developed quantum chip 'Willow' last year. At that time, Google explained that the quantum computer equipped with the Willow chip surpassed Frontier, the fastest supercomputer currently in existence, in performance testing. While it takes Frontier 10 septillion years, or longer than 1 trillion and 1 quintillion and 1 year, to solve certain problems, the quantum computer equipped with the Willow chip solved them in just 5 minutes. Following Google and MS, IBM aims to develop a quantum computer capable of error correction by 2029.