Microsoft Azure Quantum

In addition to its hardware partners on the platform, Microsoft is developing a topological quantum computer with qubits that are inherently resistant to error. The approach is based on Majorana quasiparticles, which act as their own antiparticle and have a charge and energy equal to zero, making qubits that are more resilient to disturbances.{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Debuts Azure Quantum Elements and Azure Quantum Copilot LLM |url=https://www.hpcwire.com/2023/06/22/microsoft-debuts-azure-quantum-elements-and-azure-quantum-copilot-llm/|date=22 Jun 2023 |last1=Russell |first1=John |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=HPCwire}}{{Cite web |title=Microsoft says its weird new particle could improve quantum computers |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2378782-microsoft-says-its-weird-new-particle-could-improve-quantum-computers/|access-date=2024-08-27 |date=21 Jun 2023 |last1=Padavic-Callghan |first1=Karmela |website=New Scientist}}

In September 2023, Azure Quantum researchers found evidence consistent with the creation and control of Majorana quasiparticles for topological quantum computing.{{cite journal |last1=Aghaee |first1=Morteza |title=InAs-Al hybrid devices passing the topological gap protocol |url=https://journals.aps.org/prb/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevB.107.245423 |date= 21 Jun 2023 |journal=Physical Review B |volume=107 |issue=24 |page=245423 |doi=10.1103/PhysRevB.107.245423 |arxiv=2207.02472 |access-date=31 October 2024}}

In November 2024, the qubit virtualization system created 24 entangled logical qubits – a new record – on a neutral atom processor.{{Cite web |title=Microsoft and Atom Computing will launch a commercial quantum computer in 2025 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/19/microsoft-and-atom-computing-will-launch-a-commercial-quantum-computer-in-2025/|last1=Lardinois |first1=Frederic |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=TechCrunch |date=19 Nov 2024}} The work demonstrated detection and correction of errors while performing computations, including the first demonstration on record of loss correction in a commercial neutral-atom system from Atom Computing.{{Cite web |title=Microsoft and Atom Computing combine for quantum error correction demo |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/11/how-to-fix-quantum-computing-errors-neutral-atom-edition/ |last1=Timmer |first1=John |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Ars Technica |date=19 Nov 2024}}

Microsoft has also introduced three levels of implementation for quantum computing: foundational (noisy intermediate-scale qubits), resilient (reliable logical qubits), and scale (quantum supercomputers).{{Cite web |title=A Deeper Dive Into Microsoft's Topological Quantum Computer Roadmap |url=https://quantumcomputingreport.com/a-deeper-dive-into-microsofts-topological-quantum-computer-roadmap/ |last1=Finke |first1=Doug |last2=Shaw |first2= David |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Quantum Computing Report |date=21 Sep 2023}}

In 2024, Microsoft applied a qubit virtualization system to Quantinuum's trapped ion quantum computer to create 12 logical qubits, the most reliable logical qubits on record at the time.{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Azure Quantum: Accelerating Discovery In The Quantum Age |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/moorinsights/2024/10/02/microsoft-azure-quantum-accelerating-discovery-in-the-quantum-age/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |date=2 Oct 2024 |last1=Smith-Goodson |first1=Paul |website=Forbes}} The work built upon a previous demonstration that reached error rates 800 times better than the achievement of the same quantum computer without virtualization.{{Cite web |title=Quantinuum quantum computer using Microsoft's 'logical quantum bits' runs 14,000 experiments with no errors |url=https://phys.org/news/2024-04-quantinuum-quantum-microsoft-logical-bits.html#google_vignette |date=5 Apr 2024 |last1=Yirka |first1=Bob |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=Phys.org}}

Microsoft and Photonic also performed a teleported CNOT gate between qubits physically separated by 40 meters. The work confirmed remote quantum entanglement between T-centers - a requirement for long-distance quantum communication.{{Cite web |title=Photonic Inc. Demonstrates Distributed Entanglement Between Two Modules Separated by 40 Meters of Fiber |url=https://quantumcomputingreport.com/photonic-inc-demonstrates-distributed-entanglement-between-two-modules-separated-by-40-meters-of-fiber/ |date=30 May 2024 |last1=Finke |first1=Doug |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=Quantum Computing Report}}

In 2025, Microsoft reported the creation of Majorana 1,{{Cite web |title=Powerful quantum computers in years not decades, says Microsoft |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3e3252gj8o|date=19 Feb 2025 |last1=Vallance |first1=Chris |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=BBC}} which is the world's first quantum chip powered by a topological core architecture. The work created a new class of materials called topoconductors, which use topological superconductivity to control hardware-protected topological qubits.{{r|BBC Majorana 1}}{{Cite web |title=Massive Microsoft Quantum Computer Breakthrough Uses New State Of Matter |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2025/02/19/massive-microsoft-quantum-computer-breakthrough-uses-new-state-of-matter/ |date=19 Feb 2025 |last1=Koetsier |first1=John |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Forbes}} The research utilized a method to determine fermion parity in Majorana zero modes in a single shot – validating a necessary ingredient for utility-scale topological quantum computation architectures based on measurement.{{cite journal |last1=Aghaee |first1=Morteza |title=Interferometric single-shot parity measurement in InAs–Al hybrid devices |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08445-2 |date= 19 Feb 2025 |journal=Nature |volume=638 |issue=8051 |pages=651–655 |doi=10.1038/s41586-024-08445-2 |arxiv=2401.09549 |access-date=21 Feb 2025}}

For quantum applications, Azure Quantum developed Q# (pronunciation: Q Sharp), a quantum programming language, and an open-source software development kit for quantum algorithm development and simulation.

The Azure Quantum Resource Estimator estimates resources required to execute a given quantum algorithm on a fault-tolerant quantum computer.{{Cite web |title=The Azure Quantum Resource Estimator: An In-Depth Look at an Important Quantum Tool |url=https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/06/29/the-azure-quantum-resource-estimator-an-in-depth-look-at-an-important-quantum-tool/ |date=29 Jun 2024 |last1=Swayne |first1=Matt |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=The Quantum Insider}}

In 2023, Azure Quantum Elements added Microsoft Copilot, a GPT-4 based large language model tool to query and visualize data, write code, and initiate simulations.

The same year, Microsoft developed Quantum Intermediate Representation (QIR) from LLVM as a common interface between programming languages and target quantum processors.{{Cite web |title=Microsoft taps LLVM for quantum computing |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2260508/microsoft-taps-llvm-for-quantum-computing.html |access-date=2024-07-25 |date=29 Sep 2020 |last1=Krill |first1=Paul |website=InfoWorld}}

Microsoft also developed gate-efficient algorithmic methods to perform faster Trotter steps with lower gate complexity, enabling efficient quantum simulations that reduce the required quantum hardware resources.{{cite journal |last1=Low |first1=Guang Hao |last2=Su |first2=Yuan |last3=Tong |first3=Yu |last4=Minh |first4=Tran |title=Complexity of Implementing Trotter Steps |url=https://journals.aps.org/prxquantum/abstract/10.1103/PRXQuantum.4.020323#:~:text=Quantum%20dynamics%20can%20be%20simulated%20on%20a%20quantum,comparing%20unfavorably%20to%20algorithms%20using%20more%20advanced%20techniques |date= 9 May 2023|journal= PRX Quantum|volume=4 |issue=2 |page=020323 |doi=10.1103/PRXQuantum.4.020323 |arxiv=2211.09133 |access-date=31 October 2024}}

The Azure Quantum Elements platform combines artificial intelligence (AI) and traditional high-performance computing with quantum tools for materials science, chemistry and pharmaceutical research.{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Announces Additional Capabilities for Azure Quantum Elements for Research in Chemistry and Materials Science |url=https://quantumcomputingreport.com/microsoft-announces-additional-capabilities-for-azure-quantum-elements-for-research-in-chemistry-and-materials-science/ |date=22 Jun 2024 |last1=Finke |first1=Doug |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Quantum Comoputing Report}} The platform uses physics-based AI models and advanced algorithms to process complex research data and draw conclusions.{{Cite web |title=Microsoft and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory bring AI to quantum chemistry research |url=https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2024/10/microsoft-and-pacific-northwest-national-laboratory-bring-ai-quantum-chemistry-research/400397/|date=21 Oct 2024 |last1=Kelley |first1=Alexandra |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=Nextgov}}

In January 2024, Microsoft and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory used AI and HPC to model and screen 32 million new candidate materials to develop a more efficient rechargeable battery material. The joint project generated new material candidates, then conducted a hyper-accelerated search among them to reach a single suitable candidate that could potentially replace the lithium-ion.{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Uses AI And HPC To Analyze 32 Million New Materials |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/moorinsights/2024/01/25/microsoft-uses-ai-and-hpc-to-analyze-32-million-new-materials/ |date=25 Jan 2024 |last1=Smith-Goodson |first1=Paul |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=Forbes}}

In July 2024, Microsoft released a Generative Chemistry tool for Azure Quantum Elements that uses generative AI to identify the right molecules to use for a particular application. Microsoft also released an Accelerated Density Functional Theory tool to simulate simulations of a molecule's electronic structure using density functional theory (DFT).{{Cite web |title=Microsoft puts new tools in the hands of chemical scientists |url=https://www.fierceelectronics.com/ai/microsoft-puts-new-tools-hands-chemical-scientists |date=8 Jul 2024 |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Fierce Electronics}}

Microsoft also used two logical qubits integrated with AI and cloud high-performance computing to solve a practical chemistry problem. According to Microsoft, this case study on catalytic reactions producing chiral molecules represents the first time an HPC system, AI, and quantum computing hardware have been deployed together to solve a specific scientific problem.{{Cite web |title=Microsoft, Quantinuum combine HPC, AI, quantum to solve real-world chemistry problem |url=https://thenextweb.com/news/microsoft-quantinuum-hybrid-hpc-ai-quantum-solve-real-world-chemistry-problem |last1=Ahlgren |first1=Linnea |date= 10 Sep 2024 |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=The Next Web}}

In pharmaceuticals, Azure Quantum Elements and HPC platform was integrated with 1910 Gentetics' computational and wet lab biological information, laboratory automation powered by robotics and multimodal AI models for drug discovery.{{Cite web |title=1910 Genetics and Microsoft partner to enhance pharmaceutical R&D |url=https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/1910-genetics-microsoft-pharmaceutical-rd/ |date=1 Mar 2024|access-date=2024-11-13 |website=Pharmaceutical Technology}}

• List of quantum processors

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Category:Microsoft cloud services

Category:Quantum computing

Category:Parallel computing