Scientists read Majorana parity with lifetimes above one millisecond
Researchers used quantum capacitance to read parity in a two-dot Kitaev chain and observed parity lifetimes above one millisecond.
Researchers have read the parity state of a two-dot Kitaev chain using quantum capacitance, observing lifetimes above one millisecond. Parity records whether the system contains an even or odd number of electrons.
The Nature paper, published on 11 February 2026, describes a readout step towards Majorana-based qubits. The demonstrated minimal chain offers limited protection compared with the longer chains envisaged for topological computing.
Two quantum dots make the minimal chain
The device joins two semiconductor quantum dots through a superconductor. Quantum capacitance lets researchers distinguish its parity states in individual measurements. ICMM-CSIC’s account describes Ramón Aguado’s theoretical contribution and the team’s approach to reading information spread across the device.
A minimal Kitaev chain built from coupled quantum dots.
Parity survives for more than a millisecond
The team monitored random switches between parity states and extracted a parity lifetime above one millisecond. This measures how long parity persists between switches. Coherent control and stronger protection in longer chains remain separate experimental goals, as the original preprint explains.
Sources
- Nature: parity readout in a minimal Kitaev chainnature.com
- ICMM-CSIC: quantum capacitance readouticmm.csic.es
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