Reservoir-based deterministic loading of single-atom tweezer arrays

TL;DR

This paper presents a modular reservoir-based scheme for deterministic loading of single-atom tweezer arrays, enabling continuous operation and higher data rates in quantum science applications.

Contribution

Introduction of a reservoir and buffer trap system that decouples atom loading from quantum register operation, improving efficiency and enabling continuous operation.

Findings

Deterministic loading of a hexagonal atom array from a reservoir.

Increased data rates for atom array preparation.

Pathway to continuous operation of atom tweezer arrays.

Abstract

State-of-the-art individual-atom tweezer platforms have relied on loading schemes based on spatially superimposing the tweezer array with a cloud of cold atoms created beforehand. Together with immanent atom loss, this dramatically limits the data rate, as the application sequence must be alternated with the time-consuming phases of magneto-optical trapping and laser cooling. We introduce a modular scheme built on an additional cold-atom reservoir and an array of buffer traps effectively decoupling cold-atom accumulation and single-atom supply from the quantum-register operation. For this purpose, we connect a microlens-based tweezer array to a cloud of laser-cooled atoms held in an auxiliary large-focus dipole trap by utilizing atom transport and buffer traps for dedicated single-atom supply. We demonstrate deterministic loading of a hexagonal target structure with atoms solely originating from the reservoir trap. The results facilitate increased data rates and unlock a path to continuous operation of individual-atom tweezer arrays in quantum science, making use of discrete functional modules, operated in parallel and spatially separated.