Felix von Oppen, Professor of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin
Quantum computers need to maintain quantum coherence of quantum bits over long times, requiring near-perfect decoupling from the environment. Topological quantum computation provides a remarkable route towards this goal. In its hardware incarnation, quantum information is encoded in qubits built on nonabelian anyonic excitations of topological phases and quantum information processing relies on the nontrivial behavior of these anyons under particle exchange (braiding). Encouraged by recent experiments, there is currently some excitement in both academia and industry that the simplest such topological qubit – based on Majorana bound states – might be realizable and perhaps even developed towards a topological quantum computer. This talk will discuss essential elements of such a topological quantum computer, including recent designs of Majorana-based qubits, the implementation of a universal set of quantum gates, and how to enhance topological hardware by topological quantum error correction.