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  1. The ability to make high-fidelity qubit measurements with minimal collateral disruption to the system is not only relevant to initialization and final read-out -- it is also essential to achieving quantum error correction on a universal quantum computation. Qubit state measurements in a neutral atom array are achieved by probing the array with light detuned from a cycling transition and capturing resulting fluorescence with a high quantum efficiency imaging device, producing a greyscale image of the neutral atom array. Conventionally, to achieve a fidelity above 99%, the typical probing period is several ms. This is a significant delay, given that the longest gate operation only takes several micros. In this poster, we demonstrate qubit state measurements assisted by a supervised convolutional neural network (CNN) in a neutral atom quantum processor. We present two CNN architectures for analyzing neutral atom qubit readout data: a compact 5-layer single-qubit CNN architecture and a 6-layer multi-qubit CNN architecture. We benchmark both architectures against a conventional Gaussian threshold analysis method. We demonstrate up to 56% reduction of measurement infidelity using the CNN compared to a conventional analysis method. This work presents a proof of concept for a CNN network to be implemented as a real-time readout processing method on a neutral atom quantum computer, enabling faster readout time and improved fidelity. 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available June 5, 2025
  2. Abstract

    Dielectric mirrors comprising thin‐film multilayers are widely used in optical experiments because they can achieve substantially higher reflectance compared to metal mirrors. Here, potential problems are investigated that can arise when dielectric mirrors are used at oblique incidence, in particular for focused beams. It is found that light beams reflected from dielectric mirrors can experience lateral beam shifts, beam‐shape distortion, and depolarization, and these effects have a strong dependence on wavelength, incident angle, and incident polarization. Because vendors of dielectric mirrors typically do not share the particular layer structure of their products, several dielectric‐mirror stacks are designed and simulated, and then the lateral beam shift from two commercial dielectric mirrors and one coated metal mirror is also measured. This paper brings awareness of the tradeoffs between dielectric mirrors and front‐surface metal mirrors in certain optics experiments, and it is suggested that vendors of dielectric mirrors provide information about beam shifts, distortion, and depolarization when their products are used at oblique incidence.

     
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available March 25, 2025
  3. We compare the performance of the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) with state-of-the-art classical solvers Gurobi and MQLib to solve the MaxCut problem on 3-regular graphs. We identify the minimum noiseless sampling frequency and depthprequired for a quantum device to outperform classical algorithms. There is potential for quantum advantage on hundreds of qubits and moderate depth with a sampling frequency of 10 kHz. We observe, however, that classical heuristic solvers are capable of producing high-quality approximate solutions in linear time complexity. In order to match this quality for large graph sizesN, a quantum device must support depthp > 11. Additionally, multi-shot QAOA is not efficient on large graphs, indicating that QAOAp ≤ 11 does not scale withN. These results limit achieving quantum advantage for QAOA MaxCut on 3-regular graphs. Other problems, such as different graphs, weighted MaxCut, and 3-SAT, may be better suited for achieving quantum advantage on near-term quantum devices.

     
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available December 1, 2024
  4. We present a modeling method that incorporates full-wave electromagnetic simulations and radiation force calculations to evaluate the performance of grating chips for compact megneto-optical traps (MOTs). 
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  5. We report on progress towards a single atom, single photon source using a fiber connected optical chip. Quantum experiments with cold atoms are burdened by the complexity of the experimental apparatus. Using fiber connectorized optics and a grating MOT suitable for cooling Rb atoms we fabricate a pre-aligned device usable as a single photon source for quantum communication experiments. The device integrates a grating MOT with a single beam dipole trap produced by a fiber and GRIN lens combination. MOT atoms are loaded into the dipole trap and then used as a source of single photons which are collected by the same optical fiber. We will report on details of the fabrication of the optical chip, experimental characterization, and progress towards generating high purity single photons. 
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  6. null (Ed.)
    Abstract Optical bottle beams can be used to trap atoms and small low-index particles. We introduce a figure of merit (FoM) for optical bottle beams, specifically in the context of optical traps, and use it to compare optical bottle-beam traps obtained by three different methods. Using this FoM and an optimization algorithm, we identified the optical bottle-beam traps based on a Gaussian beam illuminating a metasurface that are superior in terms of power efficiency than existing approaches. We numerically demonstrate a silicon metasurface for creating an optical bottle-beam trap. 
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  7. We investigate diffractive grating chips that can be used as part of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) to trap both Rb and Cs atoms with a single input beam for each atom species.

     
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  8. We present a continuous, narrow-linewidth, tunable laser system that outputs up to 14.0 W at 770 nm. The light is generated by frequency doubling 18.8 W of light from a 1540 nm fiber amplifier that is seeded by a single-mode diode laser achieving><#comment/>74%<#comment/>conversion efficiency. We utilize a lithium triborate crystal in an enhancement ring cavity. The low intensity noise and narrow linewidth of the 770 nm output are suitable for cold atom experiments.

     
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  9. Abstract

    Quantum transduction, the process of converting quantum signals from one form of energy to another, is an important area of quantum science and technology. The present perspective article reviews quantum transduction between microwave and optical photons, an area that has recently seen a lot of activity and progress because of its relevance for connecting superconducting quantum processors over long distances, among other applications. Our review covers the leading approaches to achieving such transduction, with an emphasis on those based on atomic ensembles, opto-electro-mechanics, and electro-optics. We briefly discuss relevant metrics from the point of view of different applications, as well as challenges for the future.

     
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