Majorana Particle: the issue of decoherence in quantum computing systems

Majorana Particle

Majorana particles, also known as Majorana fermions, are theoretical particles that serve as their own antiparticles.

Because of their self-antiparticle characteristics, they are incapable of carrying an electric charge.

In 1937, physicist Ettore Majorana suggested that the Majorana Particle exists.

So far, no fundamental Majorana particle has been directly discovered, but researchers have generated quasiparticles in specific superconducting materials that mimic Majorana behavior.

Importance

Noise Resistance: Majorana modes enable quantum information to be stored nonlocally, with the state of each qubit divided between two remote parts.

Localized disruptions cannot readily obliterate the encoded data, rendering them inherently robust against decoherence.

Scalability: If successfully developed, Majorana qubits may lead to easier, more scalable quantum computers that can tackle problems currently unattainable.

What exactly is a Quasiparticle?

– A quasiparticle is an idea utilized to represent the interaction of a collection of particles within a system.

– Quasiparticles aren't real particles; they serve to represent the collective actions of particles as if they were one single particle.

– Ripples on the surface of water aren't particles in themselves but act like “waves” caused by molecules moving as a unit.

Basics of Particles

– Particles are generally categorized as;

Fermions: These particles constitute matter and possess half-integer spins (e.g., electrons, protons, neutrons).

. Bosons: These particles facilitate essential interactions among matter, including photons for the electromagnetic force and gluons for the strong force. Bosons possess integer values of spin.

– Fermions can be additionally classified as:

. Dirac Fermions: Can possess mass or not, yet are different from their antiparticles