Microsoft unveils its latest Majorana 1 chip, based on topological architecture, on 19th Feb, Wednesday. The company believes that the Majorana 1 chip will be capable of realizing quantum computers capable of solving meaningful, industrial-scale problems in years, and not decades. This brings close to the ChatGPT moment for Quantum Computing as the Majorana 1 Chip suitably fits a million qubits on a single chip to realize the real potential.   

Microsoft's big win with Majorana 1 is the result of a 20-year effort in topological superconductors which is neither liquid nor solid but a transitionary phase. They've successfully created a material that can detect and control Majorana particles, helping build more stable and scalable qubits— the basic unit of information in quantum computing.

Qubits: Units of Quantum Information 

A qubit can represent a 0, a 1, or any proportion of 0 and 1 in a superposition of both states, with a certain probability of being a 0 and a certain probability of being a 1. Simply put, a single unit of quantum information can exist in two different states at the very same time. This is in contrast to the classical binary bit which can represent only a single binary value.

Hence, the phenomena of superposition and entanglement arising out of the transition between the two states make Qubits very fragile.  Also, they are built of trapped ions, photons, artificial or real atoms, or quasiparticles. 

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Topological Semiconductor: More Stable & Reliable  

The topological material developed by the company aims at stabilizing this very nature of Qubits. The very nature of the semiconductor helps in protecting Qubits as the information is encoded in a way that is protected from local disturbances saving the bond between the two states- 0 & 1.

Quantum Computing: Applications 

Using quantum computing at the commercial level can mean solving some major problems or let's call it unraveling the secrets of humankind ranging from why materials suffer corrosion or cracks to calculating the properties of catalysts that can break down pollutants into valuable byproducts or develop non-toxic alternatives in the first place. 

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This holds the potential of bringing some transformative innovation and changes for everything from healthcare to product development.