Atomic physics on a 50 nm scale: Realization of a bilayer system of dipolar atoms

TL;DR

This paper introduces a super-resolution technique that localizes atoms on a sub-50 nm scale, enabling detailed studies of dipolar interactions and potential quantum gate applications.

Contribution

It demonstrates a novel super-resolution method for atomic positioning below 50 nm, surpassing the diffraction limit and enabling new quantum physics experiments.

Findings

Achieved sub-10 nm resolution in atomic density mapping

Created a bilayer of dysprosium atoms separated by 50 nm

Observed dipolar interactions significantly stronger at this scale

Abstract

Atomic physics has greatly advanced quantum science, mainly due to the ability to control the position and internal quantum state of atoms with high precision, often at the quantum limit. The dominant tool for this is laser light, which can structure and localize atoms in space (e.g., in optical tweezers, optical lattices, 1D tubes or 2D planes). Due to the diffraction limit of light, the natural length scale for most experiments with atoms is on the order of 500 nm or larger. Here we implement a new super-resolution technique which localizes and arranges atoms on a sub-50 nm scale, without any fundamental limit in resolution. We demonstrate this technique by creating a bilayer of dysprosium atoms, mapping out the atomic density distribution with sub-10 nm resolution, and observing dipolar interactions between two physically separated layers via interlayer sympathetic cooling and coupled collective excitations. At 50 nm, dipolar interactions are 1,000 times stronger than at 500 nm. For two atoms in optical tweezers, this should enable purely magnetic dipolar gates with kHz speed.