Quantum computers braided ‘anyons,’ long-sought quasiparticles with memory
The particle-like states keep a record of being swapped with one another
In one quantum computer, scientists braided quantum objects called non-abelian anyons within an array of quantum bits (depicted as a grid). In this illustration, which depicts snapshots in time from left to right, the anyons keep a record of being moved around one another (red and green trails).