Robust, reusable qubits for quantum information applications

Most neutral atom quantum computing experiments rely on destructive state detection techniques that eject the detected qubits from the trap. These techniques limit the repetition rate of these experiments due to the necessity of reloading a new quantum register for each operation.;We address this problem by developing reusable neutral atom qubits. Individual 87Rb atoms are trapped in an optical lattice and are held for upwards of 300 s. Each atom is prepared in an initial quantum state and then the state is subsequently detected with 95% fidelity with less than a 1% probability of losing it from the trap. This combination of long storage times and nondestructive state detection will facilitate the development of faster and more complex quantum systems that will enable future advancements in the field of quantum information.