Site-resolved imaging of ytterbium atoms in a two-dimensional optical lattice

TL;DR

This paper presents a high-resolution imaging system for ultracold ytterbium atoms in a 2D optical lattice, enabling site-resolved detection without cooling during imaging, advancing quantum simulation capabilities.

Contribution

The authors developed a novel imaging system combining ultraviolet transition and solid immersion lens for site-resolved imaging of ytterbium atoms in a 2D lattice.

Findings

Resolved individual lattice sites with 544-nm spacing

Achieved stable imaging without cooling during detection

Analyzed lifetime and limitations of the system

Abstract

We report a high-resolution microscope system for imaging ultracold ytterbium atoms trapped in a two-dimensional optical lattice. By using the ultraviolet strong transition combined with a solid immersion lens and high-resolution optics, our system resolved individual sites in an optical lattice with a 544-nm spacing. Without any cooling mechanism during the imaging process, the deep potential required to contain the atoms was realized using a combination of a shallow ground-state and a deep excited-state potentials. The lifetime and limitations of this setup were studied in detail.