Topological 1 QPU available

Topological Quantum Computing

Topological quantum computers aim to encode qubits in non-Abelian anyons — exotic quasiparticles whose quantum state is stored non-locally in the topology of the system rather than in individual physical degrees of freedom. Microsoft is pursuing Majorana zero modes at semiconductor-superconductor interfaces as the physical basis. In principle, topological qubits are intrinsically protected from local noise.

Operating Temp
~50 mK (dilution refrigerator)
Gate Speed
Not yet characterized at scale
Typical Fidelity
Not yet characterized at scale
Scalability
Theoretically excellent due to inherent error protection

Key Advantage

Topological protection could dramatically reduce the error rate per physical qubit, potentially enabling fault-tolerant quantum computing with far fewer physical qubits than other approaches.

Key Challenge

The technology is still in early experimental stages. Majorana zero modes have only recently been demonstrated in simplified devices. Implementing two-qubit gates between topological qubits and scaling the architecture remain unsolved engineering challenges.

Topological QPUs (1)

QPU Qubits Best Price Link
Microsoft Majorana 1
Microsoft
 8 Research access Details

Use Cases

Fault-tolerant quantum computation (long-term goal) Quantum error correction research Fundamental physics research

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Majorana zero modes?
Majorana zero modes (MZMs) are exotic quasiparticles that arise at the boundaries of topological superconductors — specifically at the interface of semiconductor nanowires and superconductors under certain conditions. They are their own antiparticle and store quantum information non-locally, providing intrinsic protection against local perturbations.
Why is topological quantum computing considered promising?
Topological qubits store information in the global properties (topology) of the system rather than in local physical states. This means local noise — the main source of errors in all other qubit types — cannot corrupt the quantum information. In principle, topological qubits could be far more stable, requiring far fewer physical qubits for fault-tolerant computation.
What is the current state of Microsoft's topological quantum computer?
Microsoft announced its Majorana 1 chip in February 2025, demonstrating 8 topological qubits with a topoconductor material. This is an early-stage research device and is not yet available for general commercial use. Microsoft expects topological qubits to eventually replace their classical Azure Quantum hardware partnerships.
Can I access topological qubits through Azure Quantum today?
Not yet for general use. The Majorana 1 chip announced in 2025 is in research stages. Azure Quantum currently provides access to IonQ, Quantinuum, Rigetti, and Pasqal QPUs while the topological program matures. Microsoft has committed to offering topological qubit access via Azure Quantum in the future.
How does topological qubit fidelity compare to other technologies?
This is currently unknown at scale — topological qubits are too early in development to characterize gate fidelities for practical circuits. The theoretical promise is that topological protection could yield error rates orders of magnitude lower than the 0.1–0.5% typical of best superconducting and trapped-ion systems today.

Compare With Other Technologies

Topological vs Superconducting

Not yet characterized at scale gates vs 10–700 ns per gate

Compare Microsoft Majorana 1 vs IBM Heron r2 →
Topological vs Trapped Ion

Not yet characterized at scale gates vs 1 µs – 1 ms per gate

Compare Microsoft Majorana 1 vs Quantinuum H2-1 →
Topological vs Neutral Atom

Not yet characterized at scale gates vs 0.1 µs – 1 ms per gate

Compare Microsoft Majorana 1 vs QuEra Aquila →
Topological vs Photonic

Not yet characterized at scale gates vs Picoseconds for passive operations; detector timing ~ns

Compare Microsoft Majorana 1 vs Xanadu Borealis →