A quantum computing state detection system for detecting logical states of ytterbium-171 ion hyperfine qubits by detecting their bright or dark states, the system comprising: a shelving laser configured to apply two consecutive 435-nm laser pulses to transfer, out of the ytterbium-171 ion hyperfine qubits, the population of ytterbium-171 ion hyperfine qubits that are in a |S 1/2, F=0〉 initial dark state from the |S 1/2, F=0〉 initial dark state to a shelved dark state |D 3/2, F=2〉, in which the two consecutive 435-nm laser pulses are tuned to selectively populate hyperfine shelving levels |D 3/2, F=2〉; three detection lasers (325, 330, 335) configured to apply three detection laser pulses to the ytterbium-171 ion hyperfine qubits to determine their bright or dark states, wherein the three detection lasers (325, 330, 335) comprise: a first detection laser adapted to apply a 369-nm laser pulse connecting a |S 1/2, F=1〉 state to a |P 1/2, F=0〉 state; a second detection laser adapted to apply a 935-nm laser pulse connecting a |D 3/2, F=1〉 state to a |[3/2] 1/2, F=0〉 state; and a third detection laser adapted to apply a 369-nm laser pulse connecting a |S 1/2, F=0〉 state to a |P 1/2, F=1〉 state; the quantum computing state detection system being further configured to detect the bright or dark state of the ytterbium-171 ion hyperfine qubits in response to the application of the three detection laser pulses by collecting light from decay transitions (220, 225) from the |P 1/2 〉 states to the |S 1/2, F=0〉 state and |S 1/2, F=1〉 state, and the two consecutive 435-nm laser pulses being applied before collecting light from the decay transitions (220, 225); and the quantum computing state detection system further comprising two return lasers (345, 350) configured to return any ytterbium-171 ion hyperfine qubit in the |D 3/2, F=1〉 state and |D 3/2, F=2〉 state to the |S 1/2, F=0〉 initial dark state, wherein the two return lasers (345, 350) comprise: a first return laser adapted to apply a 935-nm laser connecting a |D 3/2, F=1〉 to a |[3/2] 1/2, F=0〉 state; and a second return laser adapted to apply a 935-nm laser connecting a |D 3/2, F=2〉 state to a |[3/2] 1/2, F=1〉 state. a shelving laser configured to apply two consecutive 435-nm laser pulses to transfer, out of the ytterbium-171 ion hyperfine qubits, the population of ytterbium-171 ion hyperfine qubits that are in a |S 1/2, F=0〉 initial dark state from the |S 1/2, F=0〉 initial dark state to a shelved dark state |D 3/2, F=2〉, in which the two consecutive 435-nm laser pulses are tuned to selectively populate hyperfine shelving levels |D 3/2, F=2〉; three detection lasers (325, 330, 335) configured to apply three detection laser pulses to the ytterbium-171 ion hyperfine qubits to determine their bright or dark states, wherein the three detection lasers (325, 330, 335) comprise: a first detection laser adapted to apply a 369-nm laser pulse connecting a |S 1/2, F=1〉 state to a |P 1/2, F=0〉 state; a second detection laser adapted to apply a 935-nm laser pulse connecting a |D 3/2, F=1〉 state to a |[3/2] 1/2, F=0〉 state; and a third detection laser adapted to apply a 369-nm laser pulse connecting a |S 1/2, F=0〉 state to a |P 1/2, F=1〉 state; a first detection laser adapted to apply a 369-nm laser pulse connecting a |S 1/2, F=1〉 state to a |P 1/2, F=0〉 state; a second detection laser adapted to apply a 935-nm laser pulse connecting a |D 3/2, F=1〉 state to a |[3/2] 1/2, F=0〉 state; and a third detection laser adapted to apply a 369-nm laser pulse connecting a |S 1/2, F=0〉 state to a |P 1/2, F=1〉 state; the quantum computing state detection system being further configured to detect the bright or dark state of the ytterbium-171 ion hyperfine qubits in response to the application of the three detection laser pulses by collecting light from decay transitions (220, 225) from the |P 1/2 〉 states to the |S 1/2, F=0〉 state and |S 1/2, F=1〉 state, and the two consecutive 435-nm laser pulses being applied before collecting light from the decay transitions (220, 225); and the quantum computing state detection system further comprising two return lasers (345, 350) configured to return any ytterbium-171 ion hyperfine qubit in the |D 3/2, F=1〉 state and |D 3/2, F=2〉 state to the |S 1/2, F=0〉 initial dark state, wherein the two return lasers (345, 350) comprise: a first return laser adapted to apply a 935-nm laser connecting a |D 3/2, F=1〉 to a |[3/2] 1/2, F=0〉 state; and a second return laser adapted to apply a 935-nm laser connecting a |D 3/2, F=2〉 state to a |[3/2] 1/2, F=1〉 state. a first return laser adapted to apply a 935-nm laser connecting a |D 3/2, F=1〉 to a |[3/2] 1/2, F=0〉 state; and a second return laser adapted to apply a 935-nm laser connecting a |D 3/2, F=2〉 state to a |[3/2] 1/2, F=1〉 state.