Micro-optical Realization of Arrays of Selectively Addressable Dipole Traps: A Scalable Configuration for Quantum Computation with Atomic Qubits

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate novel structures for the realization of registers of atomic qubits: We trap neutral atoms in one- and two-dimensional arrays of far-detuned dipole traps obtained by focusing a red-detuned laser beam with a microfabricated array of microlenses. We are able to selectively address individual trap sites due to their large lateral separation of 125 microm. We initialize and read out different internal states for the individual sites. We also create two interleaved sets of trap arrays with adjustable separation, as required for many proposed implementations of quantum gate operations.

Physics with coherent matter waves

“…Recent experiments realised trapping and guiding of atoms in light fields shaped with microlens arrays and cylindrical microlenses [131,280]. These experiments also demonstrated integrated beamsplitters and interferometric setups.…”

“…The creation of high precision sensors based on coherent matter waves is a main motivation for the very active field of atom chips [130,131]. These devices try to combine the proven but bulky laboratory techniques for the production of coherent matter waves with the miniaturisation and control possibilities offered by the semiconductor industry.…”

“…They pose severe limits on the realisation on matter waveguides and are thus particularly important for the rapidly evolving field of microscopic traps and atom chips [129,130,131]. …”

Analysis of a quantum logic device based on dipole-dipole interactions of optically trapped Rydberg atoms

“…In this paper we do not discuss the problem of creation and loading of a large number of addressable single atom sites. A number of possible solutions to these questions have been discussed in the literature [23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30].…”

Micro traps for quantum information processing and precision force sensing

“…Optical standing wave fields, so called optical lattices, generate potential structures on this length scale, typically on the order of the optical wavelength (∼ λ/2), and are sufficiently strong to confine and structure an ultracold cloud of atoms [17,19,32]. Alternatively, optical micro traps using diffractive and refractive elements [2,10], and magnetic micro traps, based on micro-fabricated magnets [14,16,27,54], have been introduced. In micro traps, the potential is defined by the geometry of the microstructure and almost arbitrary spatial and temporal potential shaping is possible.…”