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