D1 magic wavelength tweezers for scaling atom arrays

TL;DR

This paper experimentally confirms a D1 magic wavelength for sodium at 615.87 nm, enabling efficient atom trapping and imaging with reduced laser power, which enhances the scalability of atom arrays for quantum applications.

Contribution

First experimental observation of a D1 magic wavelength for alkali atoms, demonstrating improved atom trapping efficiency and scalability without trap intensity modulation.

Findings

Achieved 80.0(6)% atom imaging efficiency.

Maintained 74.2(7)% loading efficiency in 1D atom arrays.

Reduced laser power requirements by an order of magnitude.

Abstract

D1 magic wavelengths have been predicted for the alkali atoms but are not yet observed to date. We experimentally confirm a D1 magic wavelength that is predicted to lie at 615.87 nm for $^{23}$Na, which we then use to trap and image individual atoms with 80.0(6)% efficiency and without having to modulate the trapping and imaging light intensities. We further demonstrate that the mean loading efficiency remains as high as 74.2(7)% for a 1D array of eight atoms. Leveraging on the absence of trap intensity modulation and lower trap depths afforded by the D1 light, we achieve an order-of-magnitude reduction on the tweezer laser power requirements and a corresponding increase in the scalability of atom arrays. The methods reported here are applicable to all the alkalis, including those that are attractive candidates for dipolar molecule assembly, Rydberg dressing, or are fermionic in nature.