Auto-tuning, manipulation and braiding of topological quantum bits in tapered nanowire networks

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Quantum computers will revolutionize multiple technology fields which will have a massive impact on society, in areas such as communication, healthcare, machine learning & artificial intelligence, finance, materials research and development and aerospace designing. Currently, the commercialization of quantum computers for real life applications is still a long shot due to major technical challenges like decoherence, a process in which the environment interacts with quantum bits and changes their quantum behavior causing computing errors. Topological quantum computer platforms offer an alternative route where the topological nature of quantum bits protects them from decoherence, therefore not needing error correction protocols that constraint development of commercial quantum computing systems. These mainly rely on Majorana zero modes, which are topological boundary modes predicted to be decoupled from decoherence. Topological computation is achieved by braiding of Majorana zero modes, but their manipulation is still an experimental challenge. The TopoTapered project aims to develop tapered nanowires and tapered nanowire networks as a scalable technology for auto-tuning, transportation and braiding of Majorana zero modes bound at ends of topological superconducting segments. The innovative tapered nanowire platform for quantum computers will support topologically protected quantum bits making it possible to incorporate the large number of them needed for processing quantum information in quantum computers. Hence, TopoTapered will develop a simplified quantum computer architecture which will be both robust and scalable and therefore will shorten the time to market for quantum computers. Furthermore, to ensure the successful commercialization of our innovation, we will identify our product position in the quantum computing value chain and define the most suitable commercialization plan to establish a sustainable business model for TopoTapered.