Suppression of kHz-Frequency Switching Noise in Digital Micro-Mirror Devices

TL;DR

This paper presents a hardware modification for digital micro-mirror devices that suppresses kHz-frequency switching noise, enabling stable light fields for ultracold atom trapping with significantly increased hold times.

Contribution

A simple hardware extension is introduced to eliminate switching noise in DMDs, allowing for truly static light fields and improved ultracold atom trapping.

Findings

Achieved a 47-fold increase in atom hold time.

Demonstrated suppression of kHz-frequency switching noise.

Provided user-friendly APIs for DMD control.

Abstract

High resolution digital micro-mirror devices (DMD) make it possible to produce nearly arbitrary light fields with high accuracy, reproducibility and low optical aberrations. However, using these devices to trap and manipulate ultracold atomic systems for e.g. quantum simulation is often complicated by the presence of kHz-frequency switching noise. Here we demonstrate a simple hardware extension that solves this problem and makes it possible to produce truly static light fields. This modification leads to a 47 fold increase in the time that we can hold ultracold $^6$Li atoms in a dipole potential created with the DMD. Finally, we provide reliable and user friendly APIs written in Matlab and Python to control the DMD.