he 2F7/2 state of Yb+ as a resource for achieving ultra-high SPAM fidelity

The unique, low-lying f state in yb$+$ is currently employed in quantum information science almost exclusively for making clocks and optical-frequency qubits. We describe how this resource can be used with the ground state manifold to aid in the scaling of trapped Ion quantum information science. Narrow-band optical pumping into the F7/2 from one of the conventional S1/2 qubit states is projected to achieve a higher state preparation and measurement (spam) fidelity than any other demonstrated technique. As it is based on frequency-selective optical pumping, this scheme is straightforward, does not require extreme polarization purity or intensity control, and can be implemented by any groups already using YB$+$ with very few changes to their apparatus.