Synthetic three-dimensional atomic structures assembled atom by atom

Daniel Barredo (), Vincent Lienhard, Sylvain Léséleuc, Thierry Lahaye and Antoine Browaeys
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Daniel Barredo: Institut d’Optique Graduate School, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay
Vincent Lienhard: Institut d’Optique Graduate School, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay
Sylvain Léséleuc: Institut d’Optique Graduate School, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay
Thierry Lahaye: Institut d’Optique Graduate School, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay
Antoine Browaeys: Institut d’Optique Graduate School, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay

Nature, 2018, vol. 561, issue 7721, 79-82

Abstract: Abstract A great challenge in current quantum science and technology research is to realize artificial systems of a large number of individually controlled quantum bits for applications in quantum computing and quantum simulation. Many experimental platforms are being explored, including solid-state systems, such as superconducting circuits1 or quantum dots2, and atomic, molecular and optical systems, such as photons, trapped ions or neutral atoms3–7. The latter offer inherently identical qubits that are well decoupled from the environment and could provide synthetic structures scalable to hundreds of qubits or more8. Quantum-gas microscopes9 allow the realization of two-dimensional regular lattices of hundreds of atoms, and large, fully loaded arrays of about 50 microtraps (or ‘optical tweezers’) with individual control are already available in one10 and two11 dimensions. Ultimately, however, accessing the third dimension while keeping single-atom control will be required, both for scaling to large numbers and for extending the range of models amenable to quantum simulation. Here we report the assembly of defect-free, arbitrarily shaped three-dimensional arrays, containing up to 72 single atoms. We use holographic methods and fast, programmable moving tweezers to arrange—atom by atom and plane by plane—initially disordered arrays into target structures of almost any geometry. These results present the prospect of quantum simulation with tens of qubits arbitrarily arranged in space and show that realizing systems of hundreds of individually controlled qubits is within reach using current technology.

Keywords: Quantum Simulation; Optical Tweezers; Minimum Interlayer; Dipole Trap; Tunable Lens (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0450-2

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