Scientists have long been attempting to demonstrate non-Abelian anyons as they could open up new doors for quantum computing. These special particles occur in just two dimensions and can be distinguished after being swapped around unlike identical objects in a three-dimensional environment. Recently scientists at Yale University have published research in Nature detailing how they managed to observe non-Abelian exchange behaviour in 2D particles in a superconducting processor. This could allow quantum operations to be achieved by swapping particles in 2D space around one another, creating braids just like with strings. This would be a new avenue for quantum computation and could lead to Topological Quantum Computing.

The researchers’ achievement could be revolutionary for the future of quantum computing, providing a route to Topological Quantum Computing that is secure from environmental noise in quantum computing. The researchers’ success with the non-Abelian anyons shows how fundamental research can pave the way to new technology and applications that could transform industries and markets. The team is continuing its research into Topological Quantum Computing, exploring how better to control the behaviour of paired particles, and how this could lead to new solutions that are even more powerful and resilient than classical quantum computing approaches. Although still many years from fruition, Topological Quantum Computing could eventually offer a new way to perform massively complex calculations, and could be a valuable tool in areas ranging from drug development to financial modelling to logistics planning.