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Search for mechanisms to control chiral Majorana modes in superconductors

Project description

Majorana fermions as robust qubits for topological quantum computing

Quantum mechanics models electrons with a complex wave function. As first theorised by Majorana, a charge-neutral particle could have a real wave function. Such real fermions, or Majorana fermions, could serve as robust carriers of quantum information, insensitive to charge noise and other sources of dephasing. Recent experimental developments in topological superconductivity are supporting this idea. The EU-funded MajoranasAreReal project will design methods for controlling the flow of quantum information encoded in qubits based on Majorana fermions that propagate in the edge modes of a topological superconductor. The project could provide the basic building blocks for integrating localised and ‘flying’ Majorana qubits in topological quantum computer architectures.

Objective

"Quantum mechanics teaches that electrons have a complex wave function, characterized by an amplitude and a phase. As first theorized by Majorana, it is possible in principle for a charge-neutral particle to have a real wave function. Such real fermions, or Majorana fermions, could be robust carriers of quantum information, insensitive to charge noise and other sources of dephasing. With recent experimental developments in topological superconductivity this idea is becoming a reality.

Our objective is to design methods to control the flow of quantum information encoded in ""flying"" qubits based on Majorana fermions propagating unidirectionally (chirally) in the edge modes of a topological superconductor. We aim for tools to control the phase, charge, and fermion parity of the chiral Majorana modes, on both two-dimensional and three-dimensional platforms, to enable the computational applications of entanglement, braiding, and quantum state transfer.

The impact of this project is that it will provide the basic building blocks for the integration of localized and flying Majorana qubits in the architecture of a topological quantum computer. The key high-risk/high-reward deliverable is a method to exploit the chiral motion of flying Majorana qubits to facilitate braiding operations, as a demonstration of non-Abelian exchange statistics."

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) ERC-2018-ADG

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Host institution

UNIVERSITEIT LEIDEN
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 952 759,00
Address
RAPENBURG 70
2311 EZ Leiden
Netherlands

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 952 759,00

Beneficiaries (1)

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