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arXiv:1608.00251 · Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Simulating quantum spin models using Rydberg-excited atomic ensembles in magnetic microtrap arrays

S. Whitlock, Alexander W. Glaetzle, Peter Hannaford

Published Feb 17, 2017• 53 citations

Abstract

We propose a scheme to simulate lattice spin models based on strong, long-range interacting Rydberg atoms stored in a large-spacing array of magnetic microtraps. Each spin is encoded in a collective spin state involving a single nS or Rydberg atom excited from an ensemble of ground-state alkali atoms prepared via Rydberg blockade. After the excitation laser is switched off, the Rydberg spin states on neighbouring lattice sites interact via general XXZ spin–spin interactions. To read out the collective spin states we propose a single Rydberg atom triggered avalanche scheme in which the presence of a single Rydberg atom conditionally transfers a large number of ground-state atoms in the trap to an untrapped state which can be readily detected by site-resolved absorption imaging. Such a quantum simulator should allow the study of quantum spin systems in almost arbitrary one-dimensional and two-dimensional configurations. This paves the way towards engineering exotic spin models, such as spin models based on triangular-symmetry lattices which can give rise to frustrated-spin magnetism.

DOI: 10.1088/1361-6455/aa6149

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We propose a scheme to simulate lattice spin models based on strong, long-range interacting Rydberg atoms stored in a large-spacing array of magnetic microtraps. Each spin is encoded in a collective spin state involving a single nS or Rydberg atom excited from an ensemble of ground-state alkali atoms prepared via Rydberg blockade. After the excitation laser is switched off, the Rydberg spin states on neighbouring lattice sites interact via general XXZ spin–spin interactions. To read out the collective spin states we propose a single Rydberg atom triggered avalanche scheme in which the presence of a single Rydberg atom conditionally transfers a large number of ground-state atoms in the trap to an untrapped state which can be readily detected by site-resolved absorption imaging. Such a quantum simulator should allow the study of quantum spin systems in almost arbitrary one-dimensional and two-dimensional configurations. This paves the way towards engineering exotic spin models, such as spin models based on triangular-symmetry lattices which can give rise to frustrated-spin magnetism.

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Ultracold atoms confined in microtrap array is a highly versatile platform for quantum many-body physics, quantum simulation and quantum computation because of the easy scalability, long coherence time, single site addressability and controllable interactions, e.g. using Rydberg states. Here, we demonstrate an novel method to prepare versatile arrays of atomic ensembles by transferring them from a pancake shaped optical reservoir to an array of optical tweezers produced via direct projection of light patterns produced via a digital micromirror device. The size of each ensemble is smaller than the Rydberg blockade radius, such that each one can carry either 0 or 1 (collective) excitations which can then strongly interact with the neighbouring ensembles. Finally I will discuss a recent proposal to use such Rydberg arrays to realise programmable quantum systems in the form of quantum cellular automata (QCA). This opens a path to study many-body quantum dynamics in quantum and classical regimes, to engineer highly entangled quantum states and toward an inherently scalable approach to quantum information processing and computing.

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1/r^6

interactions in a transverse and longitudinal field. This review summarizes the recent progress of these implementations in Rydberg lattices with site-resolved detection. The strong correlations in this quantum Ising model have been observed in several experiments up to the point of crystallization. In systems with a diameter small compared to the Rydberg blockade radius, the number of excitations is maximally one in the so-called superatom regime.

This article reviews the development in our laboratory of magnetic lattices comprising periodic arrays of magnetic microtraps created by patterned magnetic films to trap periodic arrays of ultracold atoms. Recent achievements include the realisation of multiple Bose-Einstein condensates in a 10 micron-period one-dimensional magnetic lattice; the fabrication of sub-micron-period square and triangular magnetic lattice structures suitable for quantum tunnelling experiments; the trapping of ultracold atoms in a sub-micron-period triangular magnetic lattice; and a proposal to use long-range interacting Rydberg atoms to achieve spin-spin interactions between sites in a large-spacing magnetic lattice.

This article reviews the development in our laboratory of magnetic lattices comprising periodic arrays of magnetic microtraps created by patterned magnetic films to trap periodic arrays of ultracold atoms. Recent achievements include the realisation of multiple Bose-Einstein condensates in a 10

\mu

m-period one-dimensional magnetic lattice; the fabrication of sub-micron-period square and triangular magnetic lattice structures suitable for quantum tunnelling experiments; the trapping of ultracold atoms in a sub-micron-period triangular magnetic lattice; and a proposal to use long-range interacting Rydberg atoms to achieve spin-spin interactions between sites in a large-spacing magnetic lattice.