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arXiv:2407.20699 · Physical Review A

Ultraprecise holographic optical tweezer array

Yuki Torii Chew, Martin Poitrinal, Takafumi Tomita, S. Kitade, Jorge Mauricio, Kenji Ohmori, Sylvain de Léséleuc

Published Nov 20, 2024• 28 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Neutral atoms trapped in microscopic optical tweezers have emerged as a growing platform for quantum science. Achieving homogeneity over the tweezers array is an important technical requirement, and our research focuses on improving it for holographic arrays generated with a spatial light modulator. We present a series of optimization methods to calculate better holograms, fueled by precise measurement schemes. These innovations enable to achieve intensity homogeneity with a relative standard deviation of 0.3%, shape variations below 0.5%, and positioning errors within 70 nm. Such ultraprecise holographic optical tweezers arrays allow for the most demanding applications in quantum science with atomic arrays.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.110.053518

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Neutral atoms trapped in microscopic optical tweezers have emerged as a growing platform for quantum science. Achieving homogeneity over the tweezers array is an important technical requirement, and our research focuses on improving it for holographic arrays generated with a spatial light modulator. We present a series of optimization methods to calculate better holograms, fueled by precise measurement schemes. These innovations enable to achieve intensity homogeneity with a relative standard deviation of 0.3%, shape variations below 0.5%, and positioning errors within 70 nm. Such ultraprecise holographic optical tweezers arrays allow for the most demanding applications in quantum science with atomic arrays.
High degree of adjustability enables the holographic tweezer array a versatile platform for creating an arbitrary geometrical atomic array. In holographic tweezer array experiments, an optical tweezer generated by a spatial light modulator (SLM) usually is used as a static tweezer array. However, the alternating current (AC) stark effect generally induces the intensity difference of traps in terms of different light shifts. So, intensity equalization is an essential prerequisite for preparing a many-body system with individually controlled atoms. Here, we report an intensity equalization algorithm. In particular, we observe the non-uniformity of the tweezer array is below 1.1% when the array size is larger than 1000. Our analysis shows that by optimizing the hardware performance of the optical system, this uniformity could be further improved. Our work offers the opportunities for large-scale quantum computation and simulation with reconfigurable atom arrays.
Abstract High-precision preparation of holographic optical tweezers, which is a critical requirement for neutral atom quantum computing platforms, faces the challenge of system aberrations that degrade trap performance. In this paper, we propose a simple and efficient aberration correction algorithm for wavefront-sensorless optical systems, based on correcting the relative lateral shift of diffracted light across spatial regions. Applied to a cold atomic system, this technique demonstrates active correction of aberrations up to several wavelengths, reducing them to a peak-to-valley difference of 0.19(3) λ . The diffraction spot quality and optical trap depth are significantly improved after aberration correction. Combined with subsequent array optimization, the technique enables the generation of uniform optical trap arrays with enhanced atom-loading efficiency. The method requires no prior wavefront information or additional hardware, utilizing only an SLM and a standard CCD camera. Its computational efficiency and hardware simplicity make it broadly applicable to fields such as laser lithography and microscopy.
Optical tweezers have become an essential tool for dynamically manipulating objects, ranging from microspheres or biological molecules to neutral atoms. In this study, we demonstrate the creation of tweezer arrays using a generative neural network, which allows the trapping of neutral atoms with tunable atom arrays. We have successfully loaded cold strontium atoms into various optical tweezer patterns generated using a spatial light modulator (SLM) integrated with generative models. Our approach shortens the process time to control the SLM with a minimal time delay, eliminating the need for repeated re-optimization of the hologram for the SLM.
We discuss and compare three methods to generate holograms for optical tweezers: simple rounding, Floyd–Steinberg error diffusion dithering and mixed-region amplitude freedom (MRAF). These schemes are optimized for producing large arrays of tightly focused luminous spots. The algorithms are compared in terms of their speed, efficiency and accuracy, for periodic arrangements of traps; an arrangement of particular interest for the trapping and manipulation of single laser-cooled atoms in the field of quantum computing. We simulate the image formation using each of a binary amplitude modulating digital mirror device (DMD) and a phase modulating spatial light modulator (PSLM) as the display element. While a DMD allows for fast frame rates, the slower PSLM is more efficient and provides higher accuracy with a quasi-continuous variation of phase. We discuss the relative merits of each algorithm for use with both a DMD and a PSLM, allowing one to choose the ideal approach depending on the circumstances.
Optical tweezer arrays trapping ultracold atoms and molecules are a versatile quantum science platform with broad impact in quantum simulation, quantum computation, and quantum metrology. The polarization dependence of anisotropic vector and tensor light shifts offers a degree of freedom for precise quantum state engineering of trapped particles. Similarly, state-selective operations depend on the polarization of the addressing light through the atom--light coupling strength. Yet, methods for controlling the polarization of individual tweezers or local addressing beams remain an experimental challenge. Here, we demonstrate independent, site-resolved linear polarization rotation across an optical tweezer array by exploiting the local birefringence tunability of a spatial light modulator. Applying this capability to an array of 88Sr^{88}\rm{Sr}88Sr atoms, we homogenize differential light shifts imparted by the 813-nm tweezers to the narrow 1S0↔3P1{^1{\rm S}_0}\leftrightarrow{^3{\rm P}_1}1S0​↔3P1​ transition, enabling sideband cooling under a magic-angle condition. Furthermore, we show dynamic transport of trapped atoms across distinct polarization zones with high survival and preserved coherence. Finally, we characterize tweezer polarization noise and demonstrate closed-loop stabilization referenced to the atomic transition frequency, reaching mrad-level stability. Our work establishes a technique for manipulating polarization-sensitive atomic and molecular transitions in tweezer architectures, with immediate applications to optical tweezer clocks and multi-zone quantum processors.
Neutral atoms trapped by laser light are among the most promising candidates for storing and processing information in a quantum computer or simulator. The application certainly calls for a scalable and flexible scheme for addressing and manipulating the atoms. We have now made this a reality by implementing a fast and versatile method to dynamically control the position of neutral atoms trapped in optical tweezers. The tweezers result from a spatial light modulator (SLM) controlling and shaping a large number of optical dipole-force traps. Trapped atoms adapt to any change in the potential landscape, such that one can rearrange and randomly access individual sites within atom-trap arrays.