Precision preparation of strings of trapped neutral atoms

Abstract

We have recently demonstrated the creation of regular strings of neutral caesium atoms in a standing wave optical dipole trap using optical tweezers [Y. Miroshnychenko et al., Nature, in press (2006)]. The rearrangement is realized atom-by-atom, extracting an atom and re-inserting it at the desired position with sub-micrometer resolution. We describe our experimental setup and present detailed measurements as well as simple analytical models for the resolution of the extraction process, for the precision of the insertion, and for heating processes. We compare two different methods of insertion, one of which permits the placement of two atoms into one optical micropotential. The theoretical models largely explain our experimental results and allow us to identify the main limiting factors for the precision and efficiency of the manipulations. Strategies for future improvements are discussed.

arXiv comment25 pages, 18 figures

References in corpus (7)

• Quantum phase transition from a superfluid to a Mott insulator in a gas of ultracold atoms
• Controlled Collisions for Multiparticle Entanglement of Optically Trapped Atoms
• A neutral atom quantum register
• Generalizations of entanglement based on coherent states and convex sets
• Single atoms in a standing-wave dipole trap
• An objective lens for efficient fluorescence detection of single atoms
• Submicrometer position control of single trapped neutral atoms

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• Super-resolution microscopy of single atoms in optical lattices
• Imprinting Patterns of Neutral Atoms in an Optical Lattice using Magnetic Resonance Techniques
• Spin-1 Haldane phase in a chain of Rydberg atoms