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I know that qubits are represented by quantum particles (for example photons) and that their state is given by one property (for example spin).

My question is about the quantum memory: how are the qubits stored in a quantum computer. I suppose we require a kind of black box for Heisenberg's uncertainty principle to work. If I understand this correctly this principle is relevant for the superposition of the qubit.

How is this kind of black box implemented in real quantum computers?

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What you call a black box is simply isolating the quantum system that stores (or represents) your qubits from the environment. This can be done in several ways depending on your physical realization. For example, in an ion trap based quantum computer, one uses states of a single ion to represent a qubit, and isolates that from the environment by levitating it in empty space (using an ion trap) and by shielding it from the kind of laser radiation or other light sources that affects the chosen states.

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  • $\begingroup$ thanks for this answer, but I have two more question: how exactly is the ion shielded from radiation/light? and am I understanding wikipedia correctly and an ion trap is using electro-magnetic fields to "fix" the qubit in one position (not state)? $\endgroup$
    – luap42
    Apr 1, 2018 at 12:40
  • $\begingroup$ @MEE I tried editing the answer, but I just don't know how since it seems so trivial: Shielding something from light simply means to keep it in the dark (at least with regard to certain laser light needed to implement quantum gates: just block their light with a shutter). Yes, you understand wikipedia correctly, except that for quantum computing, usually quadrupole ion traps are used, so it's all solely due to electric, not magnetic fields. They do indeed maintain the position of the ion (by interacting with it) and, in a way, also its state (by leaving it alone, i.e. not interacting with it). $\endgroup$
    – user1039
    Apr 1, 2018 at 12:44
  • $\begingroup$ so basically we have a big (maybe 20cm) beton wall (to shield from radiation and light) and inside this are the ions trapped by an electric field? ok thanks. $\endgroup$
    – luap42
    Apr 1, 2018 at 12:46
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    $\begingroup$ It's much simpler: For blocking the relevant radiation (typically visible and possibly ultraviolet or infrared light), even a bit of paper would suffice. You still have a lot more than that because you also want to keep molecules of air from interacting with the ions, so you need a ultra-high vacuum chamber which is made from walls of maybe 2 cm thick steel or aluminium. $\endgroup$
    – user1039
    Apr 1, 2018 at 12:50
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Your question revolves implicitly around the concept of quantum decoherence and how to protect real-world implementations of qubits from it for a long time.

This is an incredibly general problem, and at the same time, the details are wildly dependent on the technology used.

If you have access to it, you can check chapter 5 : "Noise and decoherence" of Theory and Design of Quantum Coherent Structures. Also, for illustration on the current state-of-the-art of different approaches, you can check this Europen project on Engineering electronic quantum coherence and correlations in hybrid nanostructures, or this other European project (disclaimer: this is my own approach) on A Chemical Approach to Molecular Spin Qubits.


Since the problem of storage of quantum information is vital, some general strategies have been developed. In a nutshell:

  • Quantum Error Correction (also, for a slightly outdated pedagogical review see Quantum Error Correction for Beginners) which is a huge field by itself and which is based precisely on admitting the failure in building a sufficient protection to qubits and therefore the necessity for an active intervention to protect quantum information from degrading.

  • Different approaches to hybrid quantum devices exist, where the information is processed in qubits that interact strongly and quickly with each other and our external stimuli (and also with noise sources) and subsequently stored in qubits that interact very weakly and slowly with every stimulus (desirable or not). Again, this family of approaches is too much dependent on the technological details to make general statements.

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