Topological Quantum Computation I/O

Q. Briefly Describe the Technology Innovation: Up to 500 words describing the technical innovation that would be the focus of a Phase I project, including a sentence discussing the origins of the innovation as well as an explanation as to why it meets the program’s mandate to focus on supporting research and development (R&D) of unproven, high-impact innovations. This section should not just discuss the features and benefits of your solution, it must also clearly explain the uniqueness, innovation and/or novelty in how your product or service is designed and functions.

 

A. Topological quantum computation offers a pathway to fault-tolerant quantum computing by leveraging the properties of non-Abelian anyons and their braiding and fusion operations. The work explores the theoretical foundations and experimental advancements in topological quantum computation, focusing on the encoding modalities, device architectures, and material engineering required to achieve stable topological phases. Key topics include the mathematical framework of anyonic systems, the Jones polynomial, and Witten-Chern-Simons theory, as well as the practical implementation of superconducting Indium Arsenide-Aluminum (InAs/Al) devices. The study introduces the Topological Gap Protocol (TGP) as a method to identify and stabilize topological phases, supported by experimental results demonstrating Majorana zero modes (MZMs) and fermion parity measurements. Device geometries, including single-layer and dual-layer gate designs, are analyzed for their ability to optimize the topological gap and minimize disorder. Additionally, the work discusses the development of tetron based architectures for fusion and braiding operations, enabling scalable quantum computation. By reviewing advanced simulation models, material engineering, experimental techniques, and an input/output architecture, this work contributes to the understanding of topological quantum computing. systems.