Keeping a single qubit alive by experimental dynamic decoupling

We demonstrate the use of dynamic decoupling techniques to extend the coherence time of a single memory qubit by nearly two orders of magnitude. By extending the Hahn spin-echo technique to correct for unknown, arbitrary polynomial variations in the qubit precession frequency, we show analytically that the required sequence of π-pulses is identical to the Uhrig dynamic decoupling (UDD) sequence. We compare UDD and Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) sequences applied to a single 43 Ca + trapped-ion qubit and find that they afford comparable protection in our ambient noise environment.