Advancements in Topological Superconductors and New States of Matter for Quantum Computing

Researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory have made progress in developing topological superconductors for quantum computing. They created an atomically sharp interface between a superconductor and a topological insulator, which may give rise to exotic physics and host a unique quantum building block with potential as a superior qubit. By controlling the electronic structure on both sides of the interface, they aim to create Majorana particles, which could be used to encode quantum information and compute in new ways. The researchers used angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and molecular beam epitaxy to study and synthesize the materials, respectively. Challenges remain in improving and understanding the materials at the atomic level, but this research brings us closer to achieving qubits based on Majorana particles.