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1. A reconfigurable blue-detuned lattice for neutral atom quantum computing

   Graham, Trent ; Poole, Cody ; Xiaoyu, Jiang ; Marra, Alphonse ; Grinkemeyer, Brandon ; Hickman, Garrett ; Cherek, Josh ; Ebert, Matthew ; Saffman, Mark ( May 2019 , 50th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics APS Meeting)

   We present recent progress towards building a neutral atom quantum computer. We use a new design for a blue-detuned optical lattice to trap single Cs atoms. The lattice is created using a combination of diffractive elements and acousto-optic deflectors (AODs) which give a reconfigurable set of cross-hatched lines. By using AODs, we can vary the number of traps and size of the trapping regions as well as eliminate extraneous traps in Talbot planes. Since this trap uses blue-detuned light, it traps both ground state atoms and atoms excited to the Rydberg state; moreover, by tuning the size of the trapping region, we can make the traps “magic” for a selected Rydberg state. We use an optical tweezer beam for atom rearrangement. When loading atoms into the array, trap sites randomly contain zero or one atoms. Atoms are then moved between different trapping sites using a red-detuned optical tweezer. Optimal atom rearrangement is calculated using the “Hungarian Method”. These rearrangement techniques can be used to create defect-free sub-lattices. Lattice atoms can also be used as a reservoir for a set of selected sites. This allows quick replacement of atoms, and increased data rate, without reloading from a MOT. 

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2. An efficient 2D array of blue-detuned optical traps

   Graham, Trent ; Xiaoyu, Jiang ; Poole, Cody ; Sun, Yuan ; Lichtman, Martin ; Saffman, Mark ( May 2018 , Bulletin American Physical Society, DAMOP 2018)

   We demonstrate a 2D lattice of blue-detuned optical traps which uses laser power efficiently, is tolerant to perturbations in beam alignment, and is insensitive to interferometric phases. Blue traps have several advantages over red traps despite requir- ing a more complicated beam geometry. Since atoms in a blue trap sit at an intensity minimum, Stark shift noise and site-to-site calibrations are minimized. However, constructing a blue lattice which efficiently con- verts laser power into trap depth, is challenging. For example, a lattice of bottle beams is inefficient because neighboring sites are separated by two walls, limiting the number of traps that can be formed. An array of tightly spaced Gaussian beams is a more efficient blue trap, but the trap potentials are susceptible to alignment perturbations. We demonstrate an array which uses diffractive optical elements to create a cross-hatched pattern of lines in the focal region where the atoms are trapped in up to 121 sites. This "line array" is almost twice as efficient as the Gaussian beam array and is more resilient to perturbations in beam alignment. 

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3. Quantum information with Rydberg excited atoms1

   Saffman, M. ( May 2019 , DAMOP 2019)

   Optically trapped neutral atoms are one of several leading approaches for scalable quantum information processing. When prepared in electronic ground states in deep optical lattices atomic qubits are weakly interacting with long coherence times. Excitation to Rydberg states turns on strong interactions which enable fast gates and entanglement generation. I will present quantum logic experiments with a 2D array of blue detuned lines that traps more than 100 Cesium atom qubits. The array is randomly loaded from a MOT and an optical tweezer steered by a 2D acousto-optic deflector is used to ll subregions of the array. Progress towards high fidelity entangling gates based on Rydberg excitation lasers with lower noise, and optimized optical polarization and magnetic eld settings will be shown. 

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4. Preparation and control of neutral atom ensemble qubits using Rydberg interactions

   Young, Christopher ; Kwon, Minho ; Yang, Peiyu ; Huft, Preston ; Radzom, Brandon ; Ebert, Matthew ; Walker, Thad ; Saffman, Mark ( May 2019 , DAMOP19 Meeting of The American Physical Society)

   Ensemble qubits with strong coupling to photons and resilience against single atom loss are promising candidates for building quantum networks. We report on progress towards high fidelity preparation and control of ensemble qubits using Rydberg blockade. Our previous demonstration of ensemble qubit preparation at a fidelity <60% was possibly limited by Rydberg blockade leakage due to uncontrolled short range atom pair separation. We show progress towards ensembles with a blue-detuned 1-D lattice on top of the existing red-detuned dipole trap, which will suppress unwanted Rydberg interactions by imposing constraints on the atomic separation. We study the effect of lattice insertion on the fidelity of ensemble state preparation and Rydberg-mediated gates. Studies of cooperative scattering from a 1D atomic array will also be presented. 

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5. Co-trapped heteronuclear Rydberg and Collisional Interactions in an Optical Dipole Trap

   Ebert, MATTHEW ; Poole, Cody ; XIAOYU, Jiang ; KEARNS, Genevieve ; TIESINGA, Eite ; SAFFMAN, Mark ( January 2019 , APS DAMOP meeting, May 2019 Milwaukee)

   We present progress in demonstrating Rydberg interactions between a single Rb and a single Cs atom simultaneously trapped in a single 1064 nm optical tweezer. Rydberg levels in heteronuclear systems have different quantum defects, as opposed to homonuclear systems, and can therefore be chosen to minimize the Forster defect and increase the Rydberg interaction strength beyond symmetric Rydberg pairs at comparable energy levels. Additionally, multispecies systems are distinguishable and can be frequency multiplexed in a straightforward manner, enabling crosstalk free ancilla measurements for quantum error correction. To determine the feasibility of co-trapped heteronuclear samples for quantum information and communication applications, we also measure the heteronuclear collision rates between single Rb and single Cs atoms and resolve differences in the hyperfine collision rates. Photoassociation rate of the atoms into a molecular state via the 1064 nm trap laser is also measured. 

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