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Investigating the Talbot Effect in Arrays of Optical Dipole Traps for Neutral Atom Quantum Computing

Sergio Aguayo

Published Jan 1, 2019• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Quantum computers are devices that are able to perform calculations not achievable for classical computers. Although there are many methods for creating a quantum computer, using neutral atoms offers the advantage of being stable when compared to other methods. The purpose of this investigation is to explore possible optical dipole trap configurations that would be useful for implementing a quantum computer with neutral atoms. Specifically, we computationally investigate arrays of pinholes, the diffraction pattern generated by them, and the onset of the Talbot effect in these traps. We manipulate the radius of the pinholes, the number of pinholes in the array, and the distance between adjacent pinholes in order to create trap configurations where the presence/absence of the Talbot effect contributes to the usefulness of the trap for quantum computing. We find configurations with pinhole distances of 80 μm and 100/110 μm respectively satisfied an absence and a strong presence of the Talbot effect.

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•Jan 1, 2019•0 citations
Quantum computers are devices that are able to perform calculations not achievable for classical computers. Although there are many methods for creating a quantum computer, using neutral atoms offers the advantage of being stable when compared to other methods. The purpose of this investigation is to explore possible optical dipole trap configurations that would be useful for implementing a quantum computer with neutral atoms. Specifically, we computationally investigate arrays of pinholes, the diffraction pattern generated by them, and the onset of the Talbot effect in these traps. We manipulate the radius of the pinholes, the number of pinholes in the array, and the distance between adjacent pinholes in order to create trap configurations where the presence/absence of the Talbot effect contributes to the usefulness of the trap for quantum computing. We find configurations with pinhole distances of 80 μm and 100/110 μm respectively satisfied an absence and a strong presence of the Talbot effect.
Quantum computing exploits the laws of quantum mechanics to exponentially increase computing rate for certain processes. A realized quantum computer could break encryptions and simulate large quantum systems previously unbreakable and unattainable with classical computers. Neutral atom quantum computing is a viable candidate for building these devices that satisfies four of the five criteria for a successful quantum computer. We are exploring a novel method in creating neutral atom qubits that involves a magneto-optical trap and a dipole trap created in the diffraction pattern behind an array of pinholes. The magneto-optical trap works to cool the atoms and centralize them into a cold-atom cloud in an ultra-high vacuum chamber. Laser light is then projected into the chamber through the array of pinholes, trapping the cooled atoms in light traps. In order to test the efficiency of our trapping method, I have developed an imaging system that monitors the atoms. The system is comprised of a high-speed camera that takes images of the trap while a photodiode measures the fluorescence signal from the cold-atom cloud. These measurements are used to determine the number of atoms successfully trapped, how long they remain trapped, and the trap frequency. This paper presents the details and process of developing the complete imaging system.
The neutral-atom quantum computing community has successfully implemented almost all necessary steps for constructing a neutral-atom quantum computer. We present computational results of a study aimed at solving the remaining problem of creating a quantum memory with individually addressable sites for quantum computing. The basis of this quantum memory is the diffraction pattern formed by laser light incident on a circular aperture. Very close to the aperture, the diffraction pattern has localized bright and dark spots that can serve as red-detuned or blue-detuned atomic dipole traps. These traps are suitable for quantum computing even for moderate laser powers. In particular, for moderate laser intensities ( 100~100 100 W/cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2) and comparatively small detunings ( 1000~1000 1000--10 000 linewidths), trap depths of  1~1 1 mK and trap frequencies of several to tens of kilohertz are achieved. Our results indicate that these dipole traps can be moved by tilting the incident laser beams without significantly changing the trap properties. We also explored the polarization dependence of these dipole traps. We developed a code that calculates the trapping potential energy for any magnetic substate of any hyperfine ground state of any alkali-metal atom for any laser detuning much smaller than the fine-structure splitting for any given electric field distribution. We describe details of our calculations and include a summary of different notations and conventions for the reduced matrix element and how to convert it to SI units. We applied this code to these traps and found a method for bringing two traps together and apart controllably without expelling the atoms from the trap and without significant tunneling probability between the traps. This approach can be scaled up to a two-dimensional array of many pinholes, forming a quantum memory with single-site addressability, in which pairs of atoms can be brought together and apart for two-qubit gates for quantum computing.
To increase computing power for numerous practical advantages, scientists are actively researching the field of quantum computing. Neutral atom quantum computing is a promising avenue towards building a quantum computer that satisfies four of the five DiVincenzo criteria. This involves a magneto-optical trap to cool the atoms and move them to a cloud in the center of a vacuum chamber. Then laser light will be shone through an array of pinholes to trap the atoms in an array of dipole traps. In order to ensure the atoms are trapped, I have set up an imaging system that consists of a high speed camera and a photodiode. The imaging system is to be used to determine whether the atoms were successfully trapped, calculate how many were trapped, and measure the temperature of the trap, the trap lifetime, and the trap frequency. Details regarding the setup and programming of this imaging system are presented in this paper.
Theoretical calculations were performed for the projection of a diffraction pattern created by a pinhole through a single-lens system using vector diffraction theory and a combination of programs (MathCAD, Igor, etc.). The projected diffraction patterns were then experimentally created, recorded, and analyzed. This work is part of a larger collaboration with Dr. Kat Gillen, to trap and manipulate atoms in a Magneto Optical Trap (MOT) and to make further steps in the direction of Quantum Computing using trapped neutral atoms.
We design and fabricate arrays of diffractive optical elements (DOEs) to realize neutral atom micro-traps for quantum computing. We initialize a single atom at each site of an array of optical tweezer traps for a customized spatial configuration. Each optical trapping volume is tailored to ensure only one or zero trapped atoms. Specifically designed DOEs can define an arbitrary optical trap array for initialization and improve collection efficiency in readout by introducing high-numerical aperture, low-profile optical elements into the vacuum environment. We will discuss design and fabrication details of ultra-fast collection DOEs integrated monolithically and coaxially with tailored DOEs that establish an optical array of micro-traps through far-field propagation. DOEs, as mode converters, modify the lateral field at the front focal plane of an optical assembly and transform it to the desired field pattern at the back focal plane of the optical assembly. We manipulate the light employing coherent or incoherent addition with judicious placement of phase and amplitude at the lens plane. This is realized through a series of patterning, etching, and depositing material on the lens substrate. The trap diameter, when this far-field propagation approach is employed, goes as 2.44λF/#, where the F/# is the focal length divided by the diameter of the lens aperture. The 8-level collection lens elements in this presentation are, to our knowledge, the fastest diffractive elements realized; ranging from F/1 down to F/0.025.
Many types of quantum systems are being explored for use in quantum computers. One type of quantum system that shows promise for quantum computing is trapped neutral atoms. They have long coherence times, since they have multiple stable ground states and have minimal coupling with other atoms and their environment, and they can be trapped in arrays, making them individu- ally addressable. Once trapped, they can be initialized and operated on using laser pulses. This experiment utilizes a pinhole diffraction pattern, which can trap atoms in both bright and dark areas. To maximize trap strength, an injection-locked laser amplification system is used to provide a high-power, precisely tunable light source for the diffraction pattern. This amplification system depends on the coupling between a “seed” laser and a “receiving” laser. In previous analyses of the coupling between these two laser diodes, the effects on injection locking when varying temperature and current of both lasers have been shown to be highly nonlinear, and few general trends have been identified. In this project, in order to optimize and better characterize the system, automation of the data-taking and varying parameters was implemented. High efficiency lock zones of laser currents and temperatures were identified, and these locking zones will allow us to create strong atom traps for our experiment.