Topological Quantum Computing: Microsoft Majorana Qubits & Error Protection
Topological quantum computing news: Microsoft Azure Quantum, Majorana fermions, topological qubits. Intrinsic error protection research.
Topological quantum computing represents the most ambitious approach to fault-tolerant quantum computation, encoding information in global topological properties of quantum systems rather than individual particles. This intrinsic error protection theoretically enables quantum computing with hardware error rates orders of magnitude higher than conventional qubits require.
Microsoft Azure Quantum leads development through its Station Q research division, pursuing topological qubits based on Majorana zero modes—quasiparticles that are their own antiparticles and exist at the boundaries of topological superconductors. When braided, Majorana modes perform quantum gates that depend only on the braiding topology, not local perturbations.
India's Topological Quantum Research
India's theoretical physics community contributes to topological quantum computing research through institutions including the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, and the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS) Bengaluru. Research focuses on topological phases of matter, anyonic statistics, and quantum information theory foundations. The National Quantum Mission does not currently prioritize topological qubit hardware development, focusing instead on superconducting, photonic, and neutral atom platforms with nearer-term viability.
Key Advantages
Key advantages include intrinsic topological protection eliminating need for active quantum error correction overhead, hardware error tolerance potentially 1,000x higher than other qubit types, and stable quantum information storage. Current challenges include experimental verification of Majorana modes remaining contentious, requirements for exotic materials at millikelvin temperatures, and no confirmed demonstration of topological qubit operation.
Recent Progress
Recent progress includes new generation experiments using improved hybrid semiconductor-superconductor devices (InAs/Al, InSb/Al heterostructures) reporting more robust Majorana signatures. Microsoft continues significant investment despite delays.
quantum-computingIncreasing the distance of topological codes with time vortex defects
AbstractWe propose modifying topological quantum error correcting codes by incorporating space-time defects, termed “time vortices,'' to reduce the number of physical qubits required to achieve a desired logical error rate. A time vortex is inserted by adding a spatially varying delay to the periodic measurement sequence defining the code such that the delay accumulated on a homologically non-trivial cycle is an integer multiple of the period. We analyze this construction within the framework of the Floquet color code and optimize the embedding of the code on a torus along with the choice of the number of time vortices inserted in each direction. Asymptotically, the vortexed code requires less than half the number of qubits as the vortex-free code to reach a given code distance. We benchmark the performance of the vortexed Floquet color code by Monte Carlo simulations with a circuit-level noise model and demonstrate that the smallest vortexed code (with $30$ qubits) outperforms the vortex-free code with $42$ qubits.► BibTeX data@article{Kishony2026increasingdistance, doi = {10.22331/q-2026-02-23-2006}, url = {https://doi.org/10.22331/q-2026-02-23-2006}, title = {Increasing the distance of topological codes with time vortex defects}, author = {Kishony, Gilad and Berg, Erez}, journal = {{Quantum}}, issn = {2521-327X}, publisher = {{Verein zur F{\"{o}}rderung des Open Access Publizierens in den Quantenwissenschaften}}, volume = {10}, pages = {2006}, month = feb, year = {2026} }► References [1] Eric Dennis, Alexei Kitaev, Andrew Landahl, and John Preskill. Topological quantum memory. Journal of Mathematical Physics, 43 (9): 4452–4505, 09 2002. ISSN 0022-2488. 10.1063/1.1499754. URL https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1499754. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1499754 [2] A.Yu. Kitaev. Fault-tolerant quantum computation by anyons. Annals of Physics, 303 (1): 2–30, 2003. ISSN 0003-4916. 10.1016/S0003-4916(02)00018-0. URL https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-4916(02)00018-0. https:/
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quantum-computingMachine Learning Clarifies Elusive Quantum States in Material
Scientists continue to pursue the definitive identification of Majorana zero modes (MZMs) within topological superconductors, a pursuit complicated by overlapping spectral features that mimic genuine MZM signals. Jewook Park and Hoyeon Jeon, both from the Center for Nanophase Materials Science at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, alongside Dongwon Shin from the Materials Sciences and Technology Division at the same institution, have led a study employing a novel machine-learning approach to address this challenge. Working with colleagues including Guannan Zhang from the Computer Science and Mathematics Division, Michael A McGuire and Brian C Sales from the Materials Sciences and Technology Division, and An-Ping Li, the team developed a data-driven workflow for analysing tunneling spectroscopy data from the intrinsic topological superconductor FeTe0.55Se0.45. This research is significant because it introduces an objective and reproducible method for distinguishing true MZMs from trivial in-gap states, offering a crucial step towards reliable detection and eventual manipulation of these exotic states for potential quantum computation applications. Scientists are edging closer to realising the potential of quantum computing with a new technique for identifying elusive quantum particles. The method overcomes a major hurdle in materials science by reliably distinguishing genuine quantum signals from misleading background noise, promising to accelerate the development of stable and scalable quantum technologies. Researchers are developing a new method to reliably identify Majorana zero modes within topological superconductors, a critical step towards building more stable quantum computers. Identifying these quasiparticles has proven difficult because their signatures, zero-bias conductance peaks, can be mimicked by other, non-topological phenomena within the material. The team demonstrated a data-driven workflow integrating detailed spectral analysis with machine learning to
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quantum-computingEntropic Barriers and the Kinetic Suppression of Topological Defects
--> Quantum Physics arXiv:2602.16777 (quant-ph) [Submitted on 18 Feb 2026] Title:Entropic Barriers and the Kinetic Suppression of Topological Defects Authors:Yi-Lin Tsao, Zhu-Xi Luo View a PDF of the paper titled Entropic Barriers and the Kinetic Suppression of Topological Defects, by Yi-Lin Tsao and Zhu-Xi Luo View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract:Many quantum phases, from topological orders to superfluids, are destabilized at finite temperature by the proliferation and motion of topological defects such as anyons or vortices. Conventional protection mechanisms rely on energetic gaps and fail once thermal fluctuations exceed the gap scale. Here we examine a complementary mechanism of entropic protection, in which defect nucleation is suppressed by coupling to mesoscopic auxiliary reservoirs of dimension $M$, generating an effective free-energy barrier that increases with temperature. In the Ising chain, this produces a characteristic three-regime evolution of the correlation length as a function of temperature - linear growth, entropy-controlled plateau, and eventual breakdown - indicating a general modification of defect behavior. Focusing on two spatial dimensions, where true finite-temperature topological order is forbidden in the thermodynamic limit, we show that entropic protection can nevertheless strongly enhance stabilization at finite system size, the regime directly relevant for quantum memory and experiments. Owing to the topological character of the defects, creation and transport are independently suppressed, yielding a double parametric reduction of logical errors in the entropic toric code and enhanced coherence when the framework is extended to Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transitions. Entropic barriers thus provide a passive and scalable route to stabilizing quantum phases in experimentally relevant regimes. We propose an experimental setup for entropic toric code using dual species Rydberg arrays with dressing. Comments: Subjects: Quantum Physi
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quantum-computingEntanglement Reveals Hidden Order in Complex Materials
Researchers are increasingly focused on understanding how fragile quantum entanglement behaves in realistic, imperfect systems. Kang-Le Cai and Meng Cheng, both from the Department of Physics at Yale University, have investigated universal entanglement signatures in mixed states arising from the decoherence of topologically ordered phases. Their work centres on topological entanglement negativity and mutual information, revealing how these quantities relate to the dimensions of defects forming between different decoherence-induced boundary conditions. By developing a replica field-theory framework and applying it to decohered string-net states, the authors demonstrate a crucial distinction between topological mutual information, which probes the full emergent anyon theory, and topological entanglement negativity, which specifically detects its modular component. This research provides fundamental insights into characterising topological order in noisy quantum systems and advances our ability to detect and protect quantum information. Within a cryostat chilled to near absolute zero, delicate quantum states are being deliberately disrupted to explore the boundaries of order. These controlled disturbances reveal hidden connections between entanglement and the underlying structure of matter. By measuring how entanglement responds to this ‘decoherence’, physicists are mapping the properties of exotic quantum phases and the anyons within them. Scientists are increasingly focused on understanding mixed-state phases of matter, particularly those arising from the decoherence of topologically ordered systems. Topological order, a property of certain quantum materials, promises robustness against local perturbations, yet real-world materials inevitably experience noise. As a result, identifying universal characteristics within these imperfect, mixed states becomes a central challenge. Recent work has concentrated on entanglement measures, quantifications of quantum connectedne
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quantum-computingA New Way To Read the “Unreadable” Qubit Could Transform Quantum Technology
Researchers have demonstrated a new way to read Majorana qubits, highly stable but notoriously difficult-to-measure quantum bits, using a global quantum capacitance probe. Quantum computers are often described as machines that could solve certain problems far beyond the reach of today’s fastest supercomputers. But getting from headline potential to a working device has been painfully [...]
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quantum-computingRealizing a Universal Quantum Gate Set via Double-Braiding of SU(2)k Anyon Models
--> Quantum Physics arXiv:2602.15324 (quant-ph) [Submitted on 17 Feb 2026] Title:Realizing a Universal Quantum Gate Set via Double-Braiding of SU(2)k Anyon Models Authors:Jiangwei Long, Zihui Liu, Yizhi Li, Jianxin Zhong, Lijun Meng View a PDF of the paper titled Realizing a Universal Quantum Gate Set via Double-Braiding of SU(2)k Anyon Models, by Jiangwei Long and 3 other authors View PDF Abstract:We systematically investigate the implementation of a universal gate set via double-braiding within SU(2)k anyon models. The explicit form of the double elementary braiding matrices (DEBMs) in these models are derived from the F-matrices and R-symbols obtained via the q-deformed representation theory of SU(2). Using these EBMs, standard single-qubit gates are synthesized up to a global phase by a Genetic Algorithm-enhanced Solovay-Kitaev Algorithm (GA-enhanced SKA), achieving the accuracy required for fault-tolerant quantum computation with only 2-level decomposition. For two-qubit entangling gates, Genetic Algorithm (GA) yields braidwords of 30 braiding operations that approximate the local equivalence class [CNOT]. Theoretically, we demonstrate that performing double-braiding in a three-anyon (six-anyon) encoding of single-qubit (two-qubit) is topologically equivalent to a protocol requiring the physical manipulation of only one (three) anyons to execute arbitrary braids. Our numerical results provide strong evidence that double-braiding in SU(2)k anyons models is capable of universal quantum computation. Moreover, the proposed protocol offers a potential new strategy for significantly reducing the number of non-Abelian anyons that need to be physically manipulated in future braiding-based topological quantum computations (TQC). Subjects: Quantum Physics (quant-ph) Cite as: arXiv:2602.15324 [quant-ph] (or arXiv:2602.15324v1 [quant-ph] for this version) https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2602.15324 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending regi
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quantum-computingMajorana Qubits Decoded in Quantum Computing Breakthrough
"This is a crucial advance," says Ramón Aguado, a CSIC researcher at the Madrid Institute of Materials Science (ICMM) and co author of the study. He explains that the team has successfully retrieved information stored in Majorana qubits by applying a technique known as quantum capacitance. According to Aguado, this method functions as "a global probe sensitive to the overall state of the system," enabling scientists to access information that was previously difficult to observe.To clarify the importance of the result, Aguado describes topological qubits as "like safe boxes for quantum information." Instead of keeping data in one fixed location, these qubits spread information across two linked quantum states called Majorana zero modes. Because the data is distributed in this way, it gains natural protection.This structure makes topological qubits especially attractive for quantum computing. "They are inherently robust against local noise that produces decoherence, since to corrupt the information, a failure would have to affect the system globally," Aguado explains. However, that same protective feature has posed a major challenge for researchers. As he notes, "this same virtue had become their experimental Achilles' heel: how do you "read" or "detect" a property that doesn't reside at any specific point?"Building the Kitaev Minimal ChainTo overcome this obstacle, the team engineered a modular nanostructure assembled from small components, similar to building with Lego blocks. This device, called a Kitaev minimal chain, consists of two semiconductor quantum dots connected through a superconductor.Aguado explains that this approach allows researchers to construct the system from the ground up. "Instead of acting blindly on a combination of materials, as in previous experiments, we create it bottom up and are able to generate Majorana modes in a controlled manner, which is in fact the main idea of our QuKit project." This careful design gives scientists direct control
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quantum-computingSuperconducting Junctions Exhibit Precisely Half-Quantized Thermal Conductance under Specific Conditions
Researchers are increasingly focused on understanding heat transport at the nanoscale, particularly in novel topological systems. Daniel Gresta, Fernando Dominguez, and Raffael L. Klees, working with colleagues at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, University of Augsburg, and the Institute for Topological Insulators, present new theoretical insights into thermal conductance quantization within chiral topological Josephson junctions. Their study, conducted in collaboration between the Institute for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, the Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat, and Experimental Physics III, reveals the critical parameters governing robust half-quantized thermal conductance, a phenomenon dependent on the junction’s geometry and doping. This work establishes clear criteria for identifying chiral modes in these junctions and underscores the importance of momentum-space structure in determining thermal transport properties, potentially paving the way for advanced thermal management in future electronic devices. Researchers have developed a novel approach to identify and characterise chiral Majorana modes within Josephson junctions, paving the way for more reliable topological quantum computing. These Majorana modes, exotic quasiparticles behaving as their own antiparticles, are considered promising building blocks for robust quantum bits, or qubits, due to their inherent resistance to environmental noise. This work establishes precise criteria for detecting these modes through thermal transport measurements, offering a new pathway to validate their presence in solid-state devices. The study focuses on four-terminal Josephson junctions, complex structures where a normal material is sandwiched between two chiral superconductors, materials exhibiting a unique directional flow of electrons. These superconductors support topological phases characterised by Chern numbers of 0, 1, and 2, influencing the behaviour of the Majorana modes. Resear
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quantum-computingMajorana qubits decoded in quantum computing breakthrough - ScienceDaily
Majorana qubits decoded in quantum computing breakthrough ScienceDaily
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quantum-computingAtoms and Molecules Combined Unlock Faster Quantum Entanglement Generation
Scientists are exploring novel methods to harness the potential of polar molecules for advanced quantum technologies, but current limitations in state detection and weak interactions hinder progress. Chi Zhang from the Centre for Cold Matter, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Sara Murciano working with colleagues at Universit e Paris-Saclay, CNRS, LPTMS, and Nathanan Tantivasadakarn from the C. N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics, Stony Brook University, in collaboration with Ran Finkelstein from School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, present a groundbreaking scheme for logic control and state preparation utilising a hybrid system of polar molecules and neutral atoms. This research demonstrates a pathway to overcome existing challenges by employing fast, high-fidelity gates and measurements, potentially enabling the creation of large-scale entangled molecular states and significantly advancing precision measurements, topological quantum states, and measurement-based criticality. The proposed approach represents a paradigm shift in logic control and highlights the benefits of optimally utilising hybrid quantum systems for near-term device development. Polar molecules possess a complex internal structure ideally suited for quantum information storage and manipulation, but their practical use has been restricted by slow and imperfect state detection alongside weak intermolecular interactions. This work introduces a scheme leveraging the strengths of both molecule and atom qubits, achieving significantly faster entanglement than previously possible with molecule-only systems. The core innovation lies in a resonant dipole-dipole exchange mechanism between molecular rotational transitions and atomic Rydberg transitions, creating a controlled-phase gate operating three orders of magnitude faster than existing molecular entangling gates. This hybrid approach circumvents the challenges inherent in solely utilising molecules by employing fast,
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quantum-computingSingle-Shot Parity Readout of a Minimal Kitaev Chain: A Breakthrough in Majorana Qubits - Quantum Computing Report
Single-Shot Parity Readout of a Minimal Kitaev Chain: A Breakthrough in Majorana Qubits In a major technical leap published in Nature on February 11, 2026, an international research team led by QuTech (Delft University of Technology) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) has demonstrated the first single-shot, real-time readout of the quantum information stored in Majorana qubits. This achievement addresses the “readout problem”—the long-standing experimental hurdle of measuring a non-locally distributed quantum state without compromising its inherent topological protection. The study, titled “Single-shot parity readout of a minimal Kitaev chain,” utilizes a novel quantum capacitance technique to sense the global state of a “Kitaev minimal chain.” By constructing a bottom-up nanostructure of two semiconductor quantum dots coupled via a superconductor, the team successfully generated Majorana zero modes (MZMs) in a controlled, modular fashion. This “Lego-like” approach allowed the researchers to discriminate between the even and odd parity states (the 0 and 1 of the qubit) in real-time, effectively unlocking the “safe box” of topological information. Key Technical Milestones Quantum Capacitance vs. Charge Sensing: The experiment confirms the fundamental principle of topological protection. While local charge sensors—commonly used for spin qubits—remained “blind” to the qubit’s state (as it is charge-neutral), the global quantum capacitance probe resolved the parity clearly. This was achieved via an RF resonator connected to the superconductor, which measures how charge flows into and out of the superconducting condensate as Cooper pairs. Millisecond Coherence: The researchers observed “random parity jumps” and recorded a parity coherence time exceeding 1 ms. This is a significant benchmark for Majorana modes, suggesting they can remain stable long enough for time-domain control and complex logic operations.
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quantum-computingSingle-Shot Parity Readout of a Minimal Kitaev Chain: A Breakthrough in Majorana Qubits
Single-Shot Parity Readout of a Minimal Kitaev Chain: A Breakthrough in Majorana Qubits In a major technical leap published in Nature on February 11, 2026, an international research team led by QuTech (Delft University of Technology) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) has demonstrated the first single-shot, real-time readout of the quantum information stored in Majorana qubits. This achievement addresses the “readout problem”—the long-standing experimental hurdle of measuring a non-locally distributed quantum state without compromising its inherent topological protection. The study, titled “Single-shot parity readout of a minimal Kitaev chain,” utilizes a novel quantum capacitance technique to sense the global state of a “Kitaev minimal chain.” By constructing a bottom-up nanostructure of two semiconductor quantum dots coupled via a superconductor, the team successfully generated Majorana zero modes (MZMs) in a controlled, modular fashion. This “Lego-like” approach allowed the researchers to discriminate between the even and odd parity states (the 0 and 1 of the qubit) in real-time, effectively unlocking the “safe box” of topological information. Key Technical Milestones Quantum Capacitance vs. Charge Sensing: The experiment confirms the fundamental principle of topological protection. While local charge sensors—commonly used for spin qubits—remained “blind” to the qubit’s state (as it is charge-neutral), the global quantum capacitance probe resolved the parity clearly. This was achieved via an RF resonator connected to the superconductor, which measures how charge flows into and out of the superconducting condensate as Cooper pairs. Millisecond Coherence: The researchers observed “random parity jumps” and recorded a parity coherence time exceeding 1 ms. This is a significant benchmark for Majorana modes, suggesting they can remain stable long enough for time-domain control and complex logic operations. Modular Scalability: Unlike previous “blind” mate
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quantum-computingRobust Anyon Braiding Offers Path to Error-Free Quantum Computation
Scientists are increasingly exploring topological quantum computing as a pathway towards building robust and reliable machines. Anasuya Lyons of Harvard University’s Department of Physics and Benjamin J. Brown from IBM Quantum, T. J. Watson Research Center, demonstrate a novel scheme for braiding anyons to perform universal quantum computation. This research, conducted in collaboration between Harvard University and IBM Quantum, T. J. Watson Research Center, establishes that fault-tolerant topological computation is achievable even with imperfect hardware currently under development. Unlike previous approaches requiring near-zero temperature operation, their method actively corrects for errors, enabling robust computation with circuit elements subject to realistic levels of noise and paving the way for practical implementation of topological quantum computers. Scientists have achieved an advance in fault-tolerant quantum computation by demonstrating a novel error-correction scheme for anyonic qubits, addressing the challenge of building robust quantum computers. Rather than pursuing perfect hardware, the researchers developed a method to actively manage and correct errors, leveraging the unique properties of anyons, quasiparticles exhibiting exotic exchange statistics. Central to the work is the just-in-time decoder which analyzes syndrome information over time to determine the optimal error correction strategy, intelligently committing to corrections when confident and deferring them when uncertainty arises. Ungauging operations reveal the collective fusion outcome of anyons and annihilate erroneous anyons before restoring the original topological code, crucial for maintaining quantum information integrity. Measurements of stabilizer operators, generalised as detectors comparing measurements across discrete time steps, provide the syndrome data necessary for error correction, identifying erroneous anyons created by local noise and projecting them onto short string
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quantum-computingQuantum Computing Weekly Round-Up: Week Ending February 14, 2026
This quantum computing weekly roundup captures big developments from Google's quantum threat alarm to NASA's space sensor launch. From research breakthroughs in Majorana qubits to massive funding pours into infrastructure, the weekdelivered accelerating global momentum. Nations and companies are racing to dominate, making these stories essential for anyone tracking quantum's rise. The post Quantum Computing Weekly Round-Up: Week Ending February 14, 2026 appeared first on The Qubit Report.
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quantum-computingExotic Quantum State Brings Robust Qubits Closer to Reality
Scientists are increasingly focused on understanding spin liquids, highly entangled quantum states exhibiting dynamic correlations without long-range magnetic order. Vivek Kumar and Pradeep Kumar, both from the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, have investigated these materials using Raman spectroscopy to better characterise their complex behaviour. This research is significant because identifying and controlling spin liquids represents a crucial step towards realising robust qubits for quantum computation, particularly those based on the Kitaev model which predicts the existence of Majorana zero-modes. While theoretical work suggests materials like honeycomb irradiates and ruthenates could host Kitaev physics, experimental results often reveal competing interactions, and this study highlights the potential of Raman spectroscopy to disentangle these complexities and map the ground state excitations of these fascinating systems. Scientists have investigated the exactly solvable model for a spin-1/2 two-dimensional honeycomb lattice presented by Alexei Kitaev, a system hosting a topologically protected state (Majorana zero-modes). Under an applied external field, the Kitaev spin liquids transition into a topologically non-trivial chiral spin-liquid state with non-abelian anionic excitations, which is crucial for quantum computing. Earlier theoretical predictions suggested that Kitaev physics can be realised in spin-orbit-coupled Mott insulators such as honeycomb irradiates and ruthenates. However, experimental findings continuously challenge the theoretical aspects, indicating the presence of non-Kitaev interactions in real materials. Scientists investigating dimensionality, disorder (vacancy), chemical composition, generalised spin-S, and external perturbations (pres. Identified Quantum Spin Liquid Candidates and Their Low-Temperature Properties Researchers detail a comprehensive review of quantum spin liquid (QSL) candidates, identifying materials exhibiting cha
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quantum-computingQuantum computing with anyons is fault tolerant
--> Quantum Physics arXiv:2602.11258 (quant-ph) [Submitted on 11 Feb 2026] Title:Quantum computing with anyons is fault tolerant Authors:Anasuya Lyons, Benjamin J. Brown View a PDF of the paper titled Quantum computing with anyons is fault tolerant, by Anasuya Lyons and 1 other authors View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract:In seminal work (arXiv:quant-ph/9707021) Alexei Kitaev proposed topological quantum computing (arXiv:cond-mat/0010440, arXiv:quant-ph/9707021, arXiv:quant-ph/0001108, arXiv:0707.1889), whereby logic gates of a quantum computer are conducted by creating, braiding and fusing anyonic particles on a two-dimensional plane. Furthermore, he showed the proposal is inherently robust to local perturbations (arXiv:cond-mat/0010440, arXiv:quant-ph/9707021, arXiv:1001.0344, arXiv:1001.4363) when anyons are created as quasiparticle excitations of a topologically ordered lattice model prepared at zero temperature. Over the decades following this proposal there have been considerable technological developments towards the construction of a fault-tolerant quantum computer. Rather than maintaining some target ground state at zero temperature, a modern approach is to actively correct the errors a target state experiences, where we use noisy quantum circuit elements to identify and subsequently correct for deviations from the ideal state. We present an error-correction scheme that enables us to carry out robust universal quantum computation by braiding anyons. We show that our scheme can be carried out on a suitably large device with an arbitrarily small failure rate assuming circuit elements are below some threshold level of local noise. The error-corrected scheme we have developed therefore enables us to carry out fault-tolerant topological quantum computation using modern quantum hardware that is now under development. Comments: Subjects: Quantum Physics (quant-ph); Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech); Strongly Correlated Electrons (cond-mat.str-el) Cite as
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quantum-computingNegative Energy Splits Unlock More Stable Quantum Bits for Future Computers
Majorana zero modes, crucial components for building topological quantum computers, experience hybridization when their wavefunctions overlap, causing energy level splitting and increasing error rates during quantum gate operations. Cole Peeters, Themba Hodge, and Stephan Rachel, all from the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne, demonstrate a surprising phenomenon, negative hybridization, which effectively reduces the overall hybridization energy and consequently lowers gate errors. Their research reveals that this negative hybridization can suppress errors below the critical threshold required for fault-tolerant quantum computation. Importantly, this intrinsic property of Majorana zero modes offers a pathway to restore functionality to systems utilising imperfect modes, representing a significant advance in the field of quantum information processing. This counterintuitive phenomenon offers a potential solution to a critical challenge in building stable quantum computers, namely the accumulation of errors during quantum gate operations. The research demonstrates that negative hybridization, an intrinsic characteristic of Majorana zero modes, can substantially reduce the average hybridization energy of a quantum gate, thereby suppressing errors. Through illustrative examples, researchers show that this negative hybridization can maintain gate fidelities above the crucial fault-tolerance threshold. This work addresses a long-standing problem in topological quantum computing, where the successful execution of quantum gates depends on carefully controlling the speed at which Majorana modes are manipulated. Existing limitations stem from the hybridization between Majorana modes, caused by the overlap of their wavefunctions, which splits their energy levels and introduces errors. By demonstrating negative hybridization, the study establishes a pathway to mitigate these errors, even in systems with imperfect Majorana zero modes. The ability to reduce hybridiz
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quantum-computingTwisted Magnetism Can Both Create and Destroy Key Components for Quantum Computing
Researchers are increasingly exploring heterostructures combining superconductors and magnetic textures as a promising pathway towards realising topological quantum computation. Bastien Fajardo, T. Pereg-Barnea, Arun Paramekanti et al. from McGill University, the University of Toronto, and Argonne National Laboratory demonstrate that Majorana zero modes (MZMs) can emerge in superconductor-magnet heterostructures featuring d-wave superconductivity. Their work extends previous theoretical predictions for s-wave superconductors and reveals a surprising sensitivity of these MZMs to the strength of d-wave pairing and skyrmion-induced spin twisting, potentially leading to topological phase transitions. This finding is significant because it highlights the crucial role of pairing symmetry in designing robust MZMs and informs material selection for future topological quantum devices. Suppression of Majorana zero modes in d-wave superconductor-magnetic skyrmion heterostructures Researchers have uncovered a surprising phenomenon concerning Majorana zero modes (MZMs) within hybrid superconductor-magnet heterostructures. These MZMs, considered crucial for building fault-tolerant quantum computers, are typically sought in systems combining superconductors with magnetic textures like magnetic skyrmions. Previous theoretical work established a pathway to induce these modes in skyrmion-vortex pairs using conventional s-wave superconductors. This new study extends that investigation to fully gapped d+is and d+id superconductors, revealing a counterintuitive result: enhanced d-wave pairing or stronger skyrmion-induced spin twisting can actually eliminate the topological conditions necessary for stable MZMs. This unexpected behaviour stems from the unique spatial structure of d-wave pairing and the mixing of pairing channels with differing angular momentum when the skyrmion texture is effectively untwisted through a coordinate transformation. The work employs exact diagonalisation of
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quantum-computingProtected: Quantum Innovation Summit 2026 to Focus on Quantum Readiness & Deployment
This content is password-protected. To view it, please enter the password below. Password: Tags: Quantum News As the Official Quantum Dog (or hound) by role is to dig out the latest nuggets of quantum goodness. There is so much happening right now in the field of technology, whether AI or the march of robots. But Quantum occupies a special space. Quite literally a special space. A Hilbert space infact, haha! Here I try to provide some of the news that might be considered breaking news in the Quantum Computing space. Latest Posts by Quantum News: QuantaMap Breakthrough Published in ACS Nano Letters Accelerates Quantum Materials Research February 12, 2026 QuTech Demonstrates Key Parity Readout for Majorana Qubits February 12, 2026 Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Unveils Robotic System to Accelerate Qubit Development February 11, 2026
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quantum-computingQuTech Demonstrates Key Parity Readout for Majorana Qubits
In a leap forward for topological quantum computing, researchers at QuTech have demonstrated real-time readout of fermionic parity – a critical step towards building stable and scalable Majorana qubits. Published in Nature on February 12, 2026, the breakthrough enables the initialization and tracking of quantum states encoded in these exotic qubits, which promise resilience against environmental noise. The team achieved this by utilizing quantum capacitance to measure parity, overcoming the challenge that “the parity states are effectively charge-neutral, so the standard charge-sensor approach…cannot, by itself, provide a robust readout,” according to Nick van Loo. This “measurement primitive protected qubits have been missing,” concludes Francesco Zatelli, paving the way for future operations and bringing fault-tolerant quantum computation closer to reality. Majorana Qubit Parity Readout via Quantum Capacitance Unlike conventional qubits vulnerable to disturbances, Majorana qubits store information non-locally, spread across separated modes, but this distribution presented a significant measurement challenge. A standard probe targeting only one end of the device couldn’t reveal the qubit’s parity state. The QuTech team fabricated a minimal Kitaev chain—comprising two quantum dots linked by a superconducting segment—to create two Majorana modes, then employed quantum capacitance for readout. This involved an RF resonator connected to the superconductor, sensing charge flow and revealing the joint state of the two-dot system. “Getting this to work required us to tune the device into the regime where Majorana modes form and then isolate it so the parity is not constantly disturbed by the leads,” explains Nick van Loo. The team confirmed that standard charge sensors proved ineffective due to the parity states being charge-neutral, but the quantum capacitance method successfully discriminated parity in single shots, achieving millisecond-scale parity lifetimes. Measurem
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