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-computingAnyon-induced non-Hermitian topological phases
--> Quantum Physics arXiv:2607.06934 (quant-ph) [Submitted on 8 Jul 2026] Title:Anyon-induced non-Hermitian topological phases Authors:Yi-An Wang, Kun Ding, Linhu Li View a PDF of the paper titled Anyon-induced non-Hermitian topological phases, by Yi-An Wang and 2 other authors View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract:We show that anyonic exchange statistics can activate non-Hermitian point-gap topology in models that are topologically trivial in its absence. The emergent topology oscillates more rapidly with the statistical phase as the anyon number increases, and exhibits a parity dependence on the particle number. A perturbative analysis reveals the mechanism: fractional statistics induces a mismatch between momentum terms that, combined with sublattice-dependent dissipation, produces particle-number-dependent non-reciprocity and complex spectral winding. As these effects rely on the formation and exchange of interaction-bound anyons, our results establish exchange statistics as a resource for enabling non-Hermitian topology under programmed dissipation. Comments: Subjects: Quantum Physics (quant-ph); Quantum Gases (cond-mat.quant-gas) Cite as: arXiv:2607.06934 [quant-ph] (or arXiv:2607.06934v1 [quant-ph] for this version) https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2607.06934 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration) Submission history From: Linhu Li [view email] [v1] Wed, 8 Jul 2026 02:53:47 UTC (2,533 KB) Full-text links: Access Paper: View a PDF of the paper titled Anyon-induced non-Hermitian topological phases, by Yi-An Wang and 2 other authorsView PDFHTML (experimental)TeX Source view license Current browse context: quant-ph < prev | next > new | recent | 2026-07 Change to browse by: cond-mat cond-mat.quant-gas References & Citations INSPIRE HEP NASA ADSGoogle Scholar Semantic Scholar export BibTeX citation Loading... BibTeX formatted citation × loading... Data provided by: Bookmark Bibliographi
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quantum-computingHsin and Colleagues Identifies Novel Braiding Statistics for Non-Abelian Anyonic Systems
Po-Shen Hsin and Yu-An Chen at Peking University show that mutual statistics exist even when excitations do not meet the typical dimensional requirements for ordinary braiding. Their work identifies ‘Bockstein braiding statistics’, a new invariant described by a field-theoretic construction involving the Bockstein operation, and reveals its implications for quantum phases of matter. Specifically, these statistics prevent the simultaneous condensation of certain excitations and predict symmetry fractionalization in systems exhibiting mixed anomalies, offering key insights into the behaviour of anyons and fractional quantum Hall systems. Bockstein braiding statistics reveal previously unattainable dimensional thresholds The range of known braiding possibilities has been extended, achieving a mutual statistics measurement where p+q equals d-1, a threshold previously considered impossible. Prior measurements of braiding required the sum of excitation dimensions to be d-2; behaviour is now observed when that condition is relaxed by one dimensional unit. A field-theoretic construction utilising the Bockstein operation describes ‘Bockstein braiding statistics’, a phenomenon revealing connections between particles and defining these new statistics. This represents a significant departure from established paradigms in the study of topological quantum matter, where braiding statistics are intimately linked to the dimensionality of the system and the properties of the excitations involved. Traditionally, braiding statistics, analogous to the exchange statistics of identical particles, arise from the non-trivial topology of the space in which particles move. For p- and q-dimensional excitations in d spatial dimensions, ordinary braiding necessitates that p+q=d-2. This condition stems from the requirement that the exchanged particles effectively ‘wrap around’ each other in a way that is topologically protected. The new research demonstrates that this condition can be circumvente
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quantum-computingPlanar Color-Code Circuits Cut Non-Clifford Gate Overhead
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Freie Universität Berlin report a shift in methodology for implementing complex quantum gates within topological codes, moving from three-dimensional protocols to two-dimensional circuits. Researchers have constructed a family of fault-tolerant circuits, called twisted color circuits, as a microscopic implementation for logical non-Clifford gates. These circuits rely on simple physical operations and planar qubit connectivity, making them particularly suitable for superconducting qubit architectures. This advance addresses a known bottleneck in quantum computing. The new approach developed from earlier 3+0D dimension-jump protocols, now streamlined into 2+1D designs. Topological Quantum Error Correction & Code Foundations The inherent fragility of quantum states demands robust error correction, and topological codes currently represent a leading approach to scalable solutions. The surface code and the color code are particularly prominent examples being realized experimentally. The surface code and the color code offer a compelling advantage: the ability to perform logical Clifford gates transversally, utilizing a planar qubit connectivity that simplifies physical implementation. However, achieving truly universal quantum computation requires logical non-Clifford gates, a process historically hampered by challenges. Recent work introduces a novel approach leveraging domain walls between Abelian and non-Abelian stabilizer codes to implement these complex gates in a scalable, 2D manner. This approach evolved from earlier 3+0D dimension-jump protocols, which have become more efficient 2+1D protocols employing just-in-time decoding. Researchers are now exploring the potential of non-Abelian phases to create flexible protocols and microscopic circuits for a wider range of logic gates. This progress is exemplified by the construction of fault-tolerant implementations of logical non-Clifford gates. The path-i
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quantum-computingClarification on Shor's algorithm qubit requirements — did I understand this correctly?
I've been researching the recent breakthroughs in quantum computing and wanted to get this community's take. Google's Willow chip (105 qubits) just demonstrated below-threshold error correction for the first time. Microsoft claims their topological approach with Majorana 1 could scale to a million qubits. Two questions for discussion: Which architecture do you think reaches fault-tolerance first? What's your realistic timeline for Shor's algorithm breaking RSA-2048? I put together a detailed overview comparing both approaches and their implications for encryption. Happy to share the link if anyone's interested, but mainly looking for perspectives from people actually working in this space. submitted by /u/Only_Bath697 [link] [comments]
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quantum-computingUCF Physicist Receives ORAU Award to Stabilize Superconducting Circuits via Topological Mechanical Braiding - Quantum Computing Report
UCF Physicist Receives ORAU Award to Stabilize Superconducting Circuits via Topological Mechanical Braiding Quantum Computing Report
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quantum-computingUCF Physicist Receives ORAU Award to Stabilize Superconducting Circuits via Topological Mechanical Braiding
UCF Physicist Receives ORAU Award to Stabilize Superconducting Circuits via Topological Mechanical Braiding An early-career research initiative led by Assistant Professor of Physics Han Zhao at the University of Central Florida (UCF) is exploring an alternative method for fault-tolerant quantum computing by utilizing nanomechanical resonators to protect delicate quantum logic operations. Supported by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award under Award No. FP00012463, the project bypasses the heavy hardware overhead of traditional Quantum Error Correction (QEC) schemes. Instead, the team uses microscopic physical vibrations to construct a topological “braiding” mechanism inside open quantum systems, making individual gates natively resilient to environmental interference. [ UCF Topological Braiding Architecture ] Hardware Platform ──► Superconducting microwave circuits coupled to nanomechanical resonators. Thermal Controls ──► Dilution refrigerator infrastructure maintaining sub-Kelvin environment. Grant Capitalization──► $10,000 USD total seed funding ($5,000 ORAU grant matched by a $5,000 UCF fund). In standard quantum architectures, environmental noise—including stray radiofrequency fields, micro-Kelvin thermal fluctuations, or ambient physical tremors—destabilizes fragile quantum states, causing rapid phase decoherence and calculation errors. While standard QEC mitigates this issue by grouping a high volume of physical qubits to construct a single protected logical qubit, it requires massive physical scale. Zhao’s approach introduces microscopic mechanical resonators directly into sub-Kelvin superconducting quantum circuits. By driving and controlling the physical interaction between microwave signals and these vibrating structures near absolute zero, the system forces quantum excitations to cyclically swap properties along a geometric timeline. The competitive $5,000 ORAU seed grant, matched equally by a mandat
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quantum-computingGuida and Colleagues Model Topological Entanglement Persistence for Robust Quantum States
Researchers at the University of Naples Federico II, led by Guida and colleagues from Scuola Superiore Meridionale, have demonstrated that the disconnected entanglement entropy (DEE), a crucial indicator of topological order, maintains its topological value for a period proportional to the system’s size. This persistence is observed even when dissipation, acting on the boundary, affects the topological Majorana modes within the system. The underlying mechanism enabling this phenomenon is the absence of particle conservation coupled with the degeneracy of the topological manifold. The research elucidates how continuous monitoring facilitates transitions between topological states, leading to the creation and annihilation of Majorana modes, and ultimately governing the decay of topological entanglement through the propagation of quasiparticles. Prolonged topological entanglement enabled by particle number dynamics in a superconducting nanowire Entanglement, a fundamental resource in quantum information processing, now persists for a time linear in system size, representing a significant advancement over previous limitations where stability diminished rapidly with increasing complexity. A monitored superconducting Rashba nanowire served as the experimental platform, extending a previously established approach originating from studies of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) chain. The Rashba nanowire, a one-dimensional system exhibiting strong spin-orbit coupling, supports the formation of Majorana modes at its boundaries under specific conditions. These Majorana modes are particularly interesting due to their non-Abelian statistics, making them potential building blocks for topologically protected quantum bits. The nanowire’s unique ability to gain or lose particles, a consequence of the monitoring process and the open nature of the system, allows for switching between topological states, transitioning between a topologically trivial phase and a topologically non-trivial pha
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quantum-computingShanghai Jiao Tong University Studies Quantum Magic of Chaotic States
Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University are utilizing concepts from black hole physics to model quantum behavior, studying a precise relationship between specific states and black hole temperature. The team demonstrates that the quantum magic of Kourkoulou-Maldacena states, described as dual to a quantum black hole with an end-of-world particle behind the horizon, is linear with N, with a tunable slope ranging from zero to 1/2. The researchers combined Krylov subspace methods with GPU acceleration to compute subleading corrections in SYK energy eigenstates for systems with N ≤ 54, offering new insights about the relation between quantum information, quantum chaos and low-dimensional quantum gravity. Quantum Magic as a Measure of Quantum State Complexity The core of their work centers on Kourkoulou-Maldacena (KM) states, described as being dual to a quantum black hole with an end-of-world particle behind the horizon. These states, constructed using the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) Hamiltonian with Majorana fermions, show analytically that, in the large N limit, the quantum magic is linear with N. The researchers found the slope of this linearity is tunable between zero and 1/2, directly dependent on the black hole’s temperature. The team defines quantum magic as a measure of how difficult a quantum state is to simulate on a classical computer, quantifying its departure from easily simulated states like Gaussian states. To achieve these results, the researchers pushed the boundaries of computational power, performing simulations for systems with N ≤ 54, which required combining Krylov subspace methods with GPU acceleration techniques, highlighting the intense computational demands of exploring quantum complexity at this scale. They found that the FAF has simplified its calculation for these complex systems. The FAF captures the sharp distinction between Gaussian states, where it vanishes, and sufficiently complex states. Their analytical work, combined with numerical
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quantum-computingMicrosoft Pulls Quantum Safe Timeline Forward to 2029 to Mitigate Accelerated Global Encryption Threats
Microsoft Pulls Quantum Safe Timeline Forward to 2029 to Mitigate Accelerated Global Encryption Threats Microsoft Azure Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer Mark Russinovich has announced an aggressive acceleration of the Microsoft Quantum Safe Program (QSP), pulling its enterprise post-quantum cryptography execution window forward by four years to target a 2029 deadline. The corporate directive elevates Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) deployment from a theoretical risk horizon into an immediate engineering mandate across all critical products and cloud architectures. By moving its baseline target ahead of standard public-sector compliance milestones, the tech giant aims to secure its global infrastructure well in advance of adversarial groups deploying operational, large-scale Cryptographically Relevant Quantum Computers. The strategic shift is catalyzed by recent regulatory mandates—including executive directives from the United States and French governments—enforcing strict 2030 quantum-resistant cutoffs for high-risk systems. It also directly addresses the expanding threat of “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” attacks, where hostile nation-states intercept and store encrypted sovereign data networks today with the intent of decoding the traffic once fault-tolerant quantum computing systems are commercialized. To standardize accountability and enforce milestones, Microsoft is structurally incorporating its PQC deliverables directly into its comprehensive Secure Future Initiative (SFI) security development lifecycle. [ Microsoft QSP Accelerated Engineering Grid ] Data-in-Transit ──► Mandatory TLS 1.3 encryption across critical enterprise endpoints by default. Data-at-Rest ──► Decoupling algorithm frameworks to enable plug-and-play crypto-agility updates. Trust Anchors ──► Restructuring hardware-backed code-signing tokens and certificate lifetimes. The updated engineering roadmap concentrates resources across three baseline operational pillars to insula
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quantum-computingSun and Colleagues Introduce Majorana-Pauli Stabilizer Codes for Fermionic Topological Phases
Meng Sun of Peking University and colleagues have created a new framework for understanding intrinsically fermionic topological phases through Majorana-Pauli stabilizer codes. They present an exactly solvable model of the fermionic toric code, a fundamentally fermionic topological order, by coupling mathbb Z_8 Pauli operators with Majorana modes. This advances the systematic description of fermionic topological phases, revealing connections between bosonic topological orders, symmetry-enriched phases, and symmetry-protected topological phases via a shared stabilizer description. Moreover, the team extends this construction to encompass all Abelian fermionic topological orders with gapped boundaries and establishes an exact bosonization map for mathbb Z’DF symmetries, ultimately bridging fermionic quantum many-body physics and quantum error correction. Constructing Solvable Fermionic Models via Hybrid Majorana-Pauli Stabilizer Codes Majorana-Pauli stabilizer codes offer a novel approach to constructing exactly solvable models of fermionic systems. These codes combine generalised Pauli operators, mathematical tools for manipulating quantum states and observable properties, with Majorana operators, which describe particles that are their own antiparticles, a characteristic not observed in conventional electrons. Unlike Dirac or Weyl fermions, Majorana modes exhibit unique non-Abelian exchange statistics, making them promising candidates for topological quantum computation. A new type of stabilizer is defined by this hybrid construction, representing a method of encoding quantum information in a manner that protects it from decoherence and errors, analogous to redundancy in computer data storage but leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics. The use of stabilizers ensures that the system remains within a well-defined subspace of the Hilbert space, simplifying analysis and enabling exact solutions. The framework provides a systematic way to analyse intrinsically fer
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quantum-computingClouds of Uncertainty Dog Microsoft’s Majorana Qubit Claims
FeatureClouds of Uncertainty Dog Microsoft’s Majorana Qubit ClaimsA peer-reviewed critique in Nature alleges that Microsoft’s 2025 Majorana result depended on coding errors and on data the company presented selectively. Microsoft maintains that the errors were trivial and that its physics is sound. The more fundamental disagreement is one that no software correction can resolve. On 24 June, the journal Nature published a formal challenge to one of the most prominent claims in modern quantum computing. The critique was written by Henry Legg, a condensed-matter physicist at the University of St Andrews in Scotland whose research centres on the semiconductor-superconductor nanowires that Microsoft’s approach depends on, and it appeared in the journal’s Matters Arising section, which is reserved for contesting previously published research. Its subject is the February 2025 paper by Microsoft Azure Quantum that anchored the company’s Majorana 1 chip announcement. Microsoft was granted a right of reply, published in the same issue, allowing readers to weigh the accusation and the rebuttal together. In this articleWhat Microsoft claimedWhat a topological qubit requiresHow Microsoft’s chip actually worksThe critique in two partsMicrosoft’s responseThe core disagreementA second chip, and the same questionTwo tracks, and only one is its ownClouds that have not clearedA caveat, and a measure of credit Nature accepted the paper on 20 April but did not publish it until late June. By then, Microsoft had already introduced a successor chip and accelerated its target for a commercially useful quantum computer to 2029. The timing ensured that the critique reached the public during a period of renewed promotion, which has made it considerably harder to dismiss. What Microsoft claimed The February 2025 paper reported that Microsoft had performed single-shot parity readout of a device tuned into a topological phase, the regime in which Majorana modes are theorised to exist. The hardwar
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quantum-computingPrinceton University Team Studies Anyon Confinement for Topological Quantum Computation
A thorough investigation into the behaviour of anyons, quasiparticles possessing fractional charge confined within graphene, offers a key advancement towards topological quantum computation. Jeong Min Park and colleagues at Princeton University, in collaboration with University of Leeds, Washington University, National Institute for Materials Science; Namiki, University of Cambridge, and 3 other institutions, employed scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy to examine the excitation spectrum of these anyons trapped near charged impurities in both integer and fractional quantum Hall states. Observations reveal a unique energy splitting in fractional states, specifically at filling factors of 1/3 and 2/5, attributable to multi-anyon configurations and dependent on the shape of the confining potential. Local tunneling spectroscopy is a direct method for probing anyon bound states, representing a sharp step in understanding and ultimately controlling these particles for potential quantum technologies. Fractional quantum Hall states reveal multi-anyon interactions and anisotropic impurity potentials A 2/5th electron charge energy splitting has been detected in fractional quantum Hall states, a phenomenon previously unobservable due to limitations in treating anyons as point-like objects. This splitting, observed at filling factors of 1/3 and 2/5, signifies a key threshold in understanding anyon behaviour, as prior methods lacked the sensitivity to resolve multi-anyon configurations trapped by impurities. The collaboration between Princeton University and the University of Leeds attributes this splitting to the complex interaction of multiple anyons confined within the electric potential of charged impurities. The fractional quantum Hall effect arises from the strong interaction between electrons in a two-dimensional electron gas subjected to a strong perpendicular magnetic field and low temperatures. This interaction leads to the formation of correlated many-body stat
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quantum-computingFormer Microsoft Quantum CTO’s New Chinese-Based Startup Lands Pre-A Funding
Insider Brief Taiyi Quantum, based in Shanghai, announced the completion of a 300 million yuan — or about $44 million USD — Pre-A funding round, according to media and social media reports. The round was led by investors including Gaorong Venture Capital and IDG Capital, who were joined by Huakong Fund, Yunqi Capital, Dachen Caizhi, […]
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quantum-computingResearchers cast new doubt on Microsoft’s quantum computing advance - Network World
Skeptics chip away at the company’s claims in a long-running dispute over its Majorana chip program. Credit: Shutterstock/Gorodenkoff Microsoft’s controversial claim that its Majorana chip program will make possible a scalable quantum computer by 2029 has been thrown into new doubt by a scientific paper that questions whether the company has correctly interpreted its own experimental evidence. According to a peer-reviewed paper by Dr. Henry Legg from the University of St Andrews, published this week in Nature, Microsoft’s Topological Gap Protocol (TGP) framework, designed to infer the existence of quantum states in theorized Majorana particles, is flawed. “Last year Microsoft claimed they had built the equivalent of a precision Swiss watch. However, when I opened the case to examine the mechanism, I found what looked like a chaotic jumble of mismatched parts,” said Legg. He believed the results gathered from Microsoft’s TGP software data analysis could also be explained by other effects, as well as being skewed by the data chosen for analysis. Because of this, he believed the company’s researchers had jumped to the wrong conclusions. “Something was making noise, but it didn’t look like the breakthrough Microsoft had claimed. Despite the headlines, the vast majority of scientists in the field were skeptical of Microsoft’s claim from the start; my critique simply backs up that skepticism in the scientific record,” he said. Topological qubits The ability to create Majorana ‘zero modes’ that resist the errors suffered by traditional qubit-based designs is fundamental to Microsoft’s entire quantum computing strategy, stretching back two decades. This, of course, assumes the existence of subatomic Majorana fermions, named after the Italian physicist who first proposed them in 1937. To this day, they remain only theoretical. In 2018, Microsoft said its researchers had detected evidence of their existence, an apparently major breakthrough it was forced to retract when
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quantum-computingMajorana-Pauli stabilizer codes and duality webs of fermionic topological phases
--> Quantum Physics arXiv:2606.25048 (quant-ph) [Submitted on 23 Jun 2026] Title:Majorana-Pauli stabilizer codes and duality webs of fermionic topological phases Authors:Meng Sun, Zongyuan Wang, Nathanan Tantivasadakarn, Yu-An Chen View a PDF of the paper titled Majorana-Pauli stabilizer codes and duality webs of fermionic topological phases, by Meng Sun and 3 other authors View PDF Abstract:Stabilizer codes provide exact lattice realizations of bosonic topological orders. In contrast, systematic stabilizer descriptions of intrinsically fermionic topological phases remain much less developed. In this work, we introduce Majorana-Pauli stabilizer codes, a class of exactly solvable fermionic lattice models whose stabilizers are built from both generalized Pauli operators and Majorana operators. As a main example, we construct an exactly solvable stabilizer realization of the fermionic toric code: an intrinsically fermionic $\mathbb Z_2$ topological order in $(2{+}1)$ dimensions, using $\mathbb Z_8$ Pauli operators coupled to Majorana modes. Within this stabilizer framework, the anyons, string operators, fusion rules, and braiding statistics all follow naturally from the stabilizer algebra. More broadly, we show that the fermionic toric code belongs to a duality web generated by anyon condensation and by gauging bosonic or fermion-parity symmetries. This web connects bosonic topological orders, symmetry-enriched topological phases, and both bosonic and fermionic symmetry-protected topological phases, all within a common stabilizer description. We further show that the construction extends to all Abelian fermionic topological orders with gapped boundaries and to all supercohomology fermionic SPT phases in $(2{+}1)$ dimensions. Going beyond Majorana operators, we introduce fermionic versions of the clock and shift operators and use them to construct an exact bosonization map for $\mathbb Z_D^F$ symmetries for $D$ even. Using this, we realize a stabilizer model for a nontr
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quantum-computingTop quantum computer expert claims Microsoft’s ‘topological qubit’ doesn’t hold up - Scientific American
June 24, 20262 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmTop quantum computer expert claims Microsoft’s ‘topological qubit’ doesn’t hold upThe company has been touting its quantum technology for years, but some experts say these claims just don’t pass musterBy Joseph Howlett edited by Claire CameronMajorana 2, a next- generation quantum chip built with Microsoft Discovery’s agentic AI. Photo by John Brecher for Microsoft. John Brecher for MicrosoftQuantum ComputingJoin Our Community of Science Lovers!Sign Up for Our Free Daily NewsletterEnter your emailI agree my information will be processed in accordance with the Scientific American and Springer Nature Limited Privacy Policy. We leverage third party services to both verify and deliver email. By providing your email address, you also consent to having the email address shared with third parties for those purposes.Sign UpA top quantum computing expert assails Microsoft’s claims that it has a “topological qubit,” arguing in a new paper that the company has failed to demonstrate the technology.University of St Andrews physicist Henry Legg argues that the “topological qubit,” a storer of quantum information that could theoretically maintain a higher fidelity than any in existence, might simply be noise.The commentary was published today in Nature’s “Matters Arising,” the journal’s venue for formal criticism of its published papers. Legg’s response is aimed at Microsoft’s most recent Nature paper, which was published earlier this month—but it is just the latest in a string of criticism aimed at Microsoft’s Quantum division by other researchers in the field.It’s Time to Stand Up for ScienceIf you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world.
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quantum-computingPostdoc position in topological-insulator-based Majorana devices at the University of Cologne
Postdoc position in topological-insulator-based Majorana devices at the University of Cologne Application deadline: Thursday, July 30, 2026Employer web page: University of CologneJob type: PostDocTags: topological insulatorMajorana modeshybrid quantum devicesA postdoc position is available in the group of Prof. Yoichi Ando at the University of Cologne. We are attempting to elucidate the non-Abelian nature of the Majorana zero modes generated in a topological insulator (TI) platform. The successful candidate will develop and characterize TI-superconductor (SC) hybrid devices to detect and manipulate emerging Majorana zero modes using circuit-QED and/or quantum transport techniques, so that the confirmation of non-Abelian statistics via braiding becomes possible in the next few years. The responsibilities of the postdoc include: • Ultra-low-temperature quantum transport and/or circuit-QED measurements of TI-SC hybrid devices • Installation and optimization of the wirings in dilution refrigerators for such measurements • Nanofabrication of relevant devices in the clean room and associated characterizations • Modelling and analyses of experimental data and collaboration with external theory groups • Joint responsibility for third-party-funded projects • Presentation of results at conferences and publishing in peer-reviewed journals • Co-supervision of 1-2 PhD students, assistance in teaching/experimental courses We offer a fully funded position financed initially by the Cluster of Excellence ML4Q (https://ml4q.de/) with the possibility to renew the contract for up to 6 years, so that a talented early-career researcher can develop his/her research profile and to complete the German habilitation. A candidate should hold a PhD in experimental solid-state physics or related fields, possessing advanced knowledge on mesoscopic physics, superconductivity, and electronic circuits. They should also have solid experience in a subset of: • Device nanofabricatio
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quantum-computingTopological Quantum Interferometry
--> Quantum Physics arXiv:2606.19730 (quant-ph) [Submitted on 18 Jun 2026] Title:Topological Quantum Interferometry Authors:Tianyou Ying, Yufeng Zhou, Chengwei Pan, Ryan Hogan, Ruoyang Zhang, Hui Liu, Shining Zhu, Xiaoqin Gao View a PDF of the paper titled Topological Quantum Interferometry, by Tianyou Ying and 7 other authors View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract:Structured light provides high-dimensional Hilbert spaces holding tremendous potential for fundamental quantum optics and quantum technologies. However, existing characterization methods, like Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference, typically assume perfectly tuned conditions, overlooking the geometric physics governing spatial mode evolution. Here, we establish topological quantum interferometry driven by an interaction-based geometric phase, the exchange Berry phase (BPX). Our formalism generalizes $q$-plate state generation and characterization to arbitrary topological charges and (de)tuning conditions, demonstrating that BPX acts as a geometric marker governing spatial interference. We show BPX serves as a deterministic control parameter, decomposing two-photon spatial patterns into geometry-dictated fundamental modes. This mapping reveals topological invariants and phase singularities that function as a non-tomographic witness for state dimensionality estimation, circumventing full-state reconstruction. Being device-independent and highly scalable, this approach enables scalable high-dimensional characterization and topologically protected state selection, with direct applicability to quantum metrology and high-capacity quantum networks. Comments: Subjects: Quantum Physics (quant-ph) Cite as: arXiv:2606.19730 [quant-ph] (or arXiv:2606.19730v1 [quant-ph] for this version) https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2606.19730 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration) Submission history From: Xiaoqin Gao [view email] [v1] Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:53:39 UTC (10,969 KB) Full-text lin
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quantum-computingProjected logical ensembles in surface codes via the random-matrix theory of quantum dots
--> Quantum Physics arXiv:2606.17140 (quant-ph) [Submitted on 15 Jun 2026] Title:Projected logical ensembles in surface codes via the random-matrix theory of quantum dots Authors:Mircea Bejan, Jan Behrends, Max McGinley, Benjamin Béri View a PDF of the paper titled Projected logical ensembles in surface codes via the random-matrix theory of quantum dots, by Mircea Bejan and 3 other authors View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract:Measurements underpin active quantum error correction (QEC) and have been recognized as a source of novel measurement-induced many-body phenomena. Here, we study the statistical properties of post-measurement logical states arising in QEC on topological codes subject to deterministic transversal unitary gates. Upon syndrome extraction followed by maximum-likelihood decoding, a Born-weighted ensemble arises which we dub the "projected logical ensemble" (PLE). Focusing on surface codes subject to uniform single-qubit Pauli-$X$ rotations, we characterize the measurement-induced randomness of the PLE. To this end, we show that for a code with a single logical qubit, the PLE is isomorphic to an ensemble of scattering matrices describing mesoscopic quantum dots obtained from a 2D Majorana network model with suitable boundary conditions. We uncover regimes where these quantum dots are chaotic such that their scattering matrices are well-described by random matrix theory. In these regimes, the PLE approaches a universal ensemble that is maximally random up to symmetry and decoder-induced constraints. The symmetry constraints, set by stabilizer and logical operator weights, realize Altland-Zirnbauer classes D or DIII, which we both illustrate. Our results establish a fundamental connection between emergent universality concepts in mesoscopic physics, quantum many-body systems, and QEC. Comments: Subjects: Quantum Physics (quant-ph); Disordered Systems and Neural Networks (cond-mat.dis-nn); Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall); Statistica
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quantum-computingEmergence Quantum Secures Strategic Investment and Venture Partnership from Serendipity Capital
Emergence Quantum Secures Strategic Investment and Venture Partnership from Serendipity Capital Quantum R&D and cryogenic engineering firm Emergence Quantum (EQ) has finalized a strategic partnership and investment deal with global technology investor Serendipity Capital. Bootstrapped and revenue-positive since its initial launch, EQ will combine its hardware-agnostic quantum engineering domain knowledge with Serendipity Capital’s permanent capital structure and international operator ecosystem. The alliance is structured to anchor the co-development of new strategic spin-out companies and specialized hardware products across the advanced computing, semiconductor, and cryogenic infrastructure markets. The transaction integrates EQ’s deeply specialized workforce—comprising 25 scientists and engineers—directly into Serendipity Capital’s active technical due diligence and proprietary asset origination pipelines. EQ’s core technical expertise spans multiple quantum modalities, next-generation classical data center infrastructure, and sub-Kelvin superconducting control networks. The firm is led by co-founders David Reilly (former head of Microsoft Quantum’s Australian readout and control hub) and Thomas Ohki (former founder of the Quantum Engineering and Computing group at Raytheon/BBN Technologies). Both maintain joint academic appointments as Professors of Physics at the University of Sydney, anchoring a technical team slated for immediate expansion into the United States. By embedding EQ’s research team into its corporate structure, Serendipity Capital expands its existing deep-tech investment footprint, which currently includes positions in Quantinuum, QuantX Labs, Delta.g, Moth, and Monarch Quantum. Serendipity Capital will assume management of EQ’s strategic capital formation and corporate relationship development, matching the firm’s sovereign hardware capabilities with enterprise end-users. Conversely, the arrangement provides EQ with a long-term capital runw
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