Quantum computing’s “dark horse” just proved it can go universal

A practical quantum computer must eventually be able to handle any type of quantum algorithm, much like a conventional laptop can run many different kinds of software. Researchers have now demonstrated a new way to reach that level of flexibility using unusual quantum objects known as non-Abelian anyons.

Scientists from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME), Harvard, Stony Brook University, and Quantinuum created and tested a full set of operations based on non-Abelian anyons. Their results provide the first experimental demonstration that this approach can support the broad range of operations required for universal quantum computing.