Project 9: Deterministic preparation of single potassium atoms in microtrap arrays for the quantum simulation of spin systems

Summary

This project aims to explore quantum spin models realized with arrays of atoms confined in microtrap arrays. It will utilize the Rydberg-
Rydberg interaction to obtain controlled spin dependent long-range interactions. To this end we will explore deterministic microtrap
loading with potassium atoms. This technique, recently demonstrated for rubidium, promises high fidelity loading of single atoms in individual
traps and allows for a high experimental repetition rate. Distinct to rubidium, potassium offers a favorable atomic energy level structure
featuring a strongly enhanced light shift of the D lines in 1064nm microtraps. We aim to utilize this effect in combination with blue
detuned laser shielding to boost the single atom trap loading efficiency well above the already realized 90%. The blue shielding
prevents atoms to approach each other beyond a certain distance thereby avoiding light induced binary losses.

We will use holographically generated microtrap arrays, for which flexible trap positioning has already been demonstrated and then couple
the atoms in the array to Rydberg states. This induces long-range interactions and the laser coupled system effectively maps to an
effective transverse Ising system. Based on the deterministic trap loading we plan to explore these two dimensional quantum magnets in the
strongly correlated regime and for system sizes beyond reach of classical simulations. Furthermore, we will make use of the fast
experimental cycle time to explore the stability of Rydberg dressed systems in the vast parameter space defined by the trap distance, laser
detuning, Rabi coupling and the targeted Rydberg state.

 

People

Dr. Christian Groß, Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik