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Lithium Lab

Quantum simulation with programmable optical lattices

Ultracold atoms in optical lattices are among the most versatile platforms for quantum simulation of strongly correlated many-body physics, offering unmatched coherence times and scalability. Quantum gas microscopes combine lattice experiments with high-resolution optical techniques, enabling single-site and -particle control and readout.

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Experimental concept, with atom-by-atom assembly of a holographically projected optical lattice system using auxiliary optical tweezers.

In the Lithium Lab, we are developing a next-generation quantum gas microscope for fermionic and bosonic lithium atoms. Our approach relies on atom-by-atom assembly of small lattice systems, using auxiliary optical tweezers to load atoms from a magneto optical trap (MOT) into the lattice. 

By leveraging all-optical techniques in deep optical potentials, we circumvent evaporative cooling and prepare small ground-state lattice systems with high-fidelities. Reconfigurable optical lattices are created using a programmable digital micromirror device (DMD), allowing holographic projection of tunable optical potentials with unconventional geometries.

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Compact vacuum setup with UHV glass cell for ensuring optimal access for quantum gas microscopy.

Our compact vacuum system is optimized for sub-second experimental cycle times. A high-flux atomic beam from an oven-loaded 2D MOT ensures efficient loading of a 3D MOT in a glass cell under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions.

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2D MOT chamber for producing a high-flux atomic beam source.

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Fluorescence of a 2D MOT of trapped Lithium-6 atoms.

This configuration provides optimal optical access for high-resolution microscope objective, enabling the projection of short-spacing optical lattices and imaging with single-site resolution. This experimental approach opens diverse research avenues, ranging from quantum simulation of fermionic Hall physics to frustrated quantum magnetism in unconventional lattice geometries.

 

 

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