Leonard Lab
Quantum information
with single atoms
Cavity Lab
Cavity quantum electrodynamics with atomic tweezer arrays
The interaction of a single two-level atom with a quantized light field is the textbook example of quantum electrodynamics. With our experiment we aim to extend this canonical setting to many atoms. The state of each atom can be prepared, evolved, and read out with high fidelity, and several atoms at arbitrary distance can be coupled via the quantized light field.
Our approach is based on an array of neutral atoms in individual optical traps. All atoms are strongly coupled to the field of a high-finesse optical cavity. Microscopic addressing of the atoms allows us to control the coupling strength of each atom individually. The cavity mirrors consist of machined optical fiber facets as substrates with small diameters and large curvature, necessary to simultaneously reach strong coupling and microscopic access within the atomic array.
The vacuum system is designed in a modular way, and optimized to achieve fast cycle times. A section with a 2D magneto-optical trap (MOT) provides an atomic beam that is directed into the ultra-high vacuum section with a 3D-MOT, from which we directly load atoms into an array of optical tweezers. We use an acousto-optic deflector (AOD) to transfer the tweezers from the 3DMOT region into the optical cavity.
