There is a huge misconception, not just in popular press but even promulgated by scientists who should know better, that the recent retraction-related development in Majorana physics dooms topological #QuantumComputing This is false. The recent development is in fact an advance
arxiv.org/abs/2101.11456, arxiv.org/abs/2102.02218
together show that sample disorder must be reduced to create the topological qubit exactly as reducing disorder in silicon during 1930-60 led to modern electronics. We now know what needs to be done. This is progress.
together show that sample disorder must be reduced to create the topological qubit exactly as reducing disorder in silicon during 1930-60 led to modern electronics. We now know what needs to be done. This is progress.
The whole dichotomy perpetuated in the popular press that somehow there is no topological qubit and there are 53 superconducting qubits shows a total ignorance of how a quantum computer works-- you must have LOGICAL qubits which NOBODY is even close to having.
It is quantum error correction which is the founding principle of quantum computing, not a bunch of 2-level systems which are abundant in nature-- nobody is anywhere close to producing error-corrected logical qubits, so the truth is that nobody has anything!
The whole idea of using surface codes to do error correction is in some crude sense trying to produce approximate topological qubits out of dumb physical 2-level systems, so everything is TOPOLOGICAL aesthetically
While the popular press obviously has an interest in using the drumbeat of Google versus Microsoft in discussing the #quantum, it is a stupid dichotomy. Quantum supremacy is a made-up terminology for publications in prestigious glossy magazines, it is not a baby quantum computer
Trying to build a scaled up commercial quantum computer using superconducting or ion qubits of today will require many billions of qubits working together doing quantum error correction. Building a modern supercomputer using vacuum tubes may actually be easier
We should totally stop this ignorant nonsense about whose qubit technology is ahead. The whole subject advances together as we continue learning. At least, topological quantum computing involves advanced math and physics, not just high school physics of 2-level dynamics
In our quest for building a quantum computer we are still at the same early stage today as where the Wright Brothers were compared with building today's 787 Dreamliner. Let us just hope we are not at the Leonardo Da Vinci stage of airplane technology
CMTC has been doing federally-funded #quantumcomputing research since 1998, and the claim that a commercial quantum computer is exactly 5 years away (the typical federal grant cycle period) has been around since 2000. It is pretty amazing that some people are still saying this!
We should stop the nonsense and focus on the science of creating logical qubits. Majorana is an easy way to make them conceptually, but a lot of work needs to be done in materials science and fabrication, but building a quantum computer using regular qubits may be impossible
A quantum computer is not going to drop on our lap because a lot of venture capitalists have been fooled into believing that it is just around the corner, and it is also not going to happen jut because some physicists are dreaming of riches by creating startups.
Only hard work on science/engineering/materials science will make it happen, not press releases, not wishful thinking, and surely not claims of how topological qubits are dead and other qubits are alive and well. No one knows when large scale error corrections will be feasible.
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