Majorana Particles

Majorana Particles

Why it matters? 

Scientists are exploring Majorana particles as a promising route for stable quantum computing. These particles could make quantum computers more stable by protecting information from errors.  

What you should know? 

  • Majorana particles were first proposed by physicist Ettore Majorana in 1937. 

  • They are quasiparticles because they are their own antiparticles. 

  • Unlike electrons or protons, which annihilate with their antimatter counterparts, Majoranas are perfectly symmetric. 

  • Scientists have not found them in nature yet, but similar quasiparticles have been created in special materials. 

  • These appear at the ends of superconducting wires kept at very low temperatures. 

  • Majorana particles can be used to make stable qubits for quantum computers. 

  • Their information is stored in a way that makes them more resistant to noise and errors. 

  • Moving or “braiding” these particles can be used to perform quantum calculations.