Single atoms movable from one place to another would enable a flying quantum memory that can be useful for dynamic quantum computing architectures. Guided atoms, e.g., by optical tweezers, provide a partial solution, but the benefit of flying qubits could be lost if they still interact with the guiding means. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate freely flying atoms that are not guided but instead thrown and caught by optical tweezers. We provide a set of proof-of-principle flying atom demonstrations, which include atom transport through optical tweezers, atom arrangements by flying atoms, and atom scattering off optical tweezers. In experiments, cold rubidium atoms at 40 µK temperature are thrown by accelerating optical tweezers, freely fly with up to a speed of 0.65 m/s and free-flying distance of 4.2 µm, and are recaptured and stopped by decelerating optical tweezers at a transportation efficiency of 94(3)%. Flying atoms suggest possible applications such as defect correction in a tweezer trap atom array, fast atom-array formation, Rydberg-atom collision studies, and dynamic quantum computing architectures.Single atoms movable from one place to another would enable a flying quantum memory that can be useful for dynamic quantum computing architectures. Guided atoms, e.g., by optical tweezers, provide a partial solution, but the benefit of flying qubits could be lost if they still interact with the guiding means. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate freely flying atoms that are not guided but instead thrown and caught by optical tweezers. We provide a set of proof-of-principle flying atom demonstrations, which include atom transport through optical tweezers, atom arrangements by flying atoms, and atom scattering off optical tweezers. In experiments, cold rubidium atoms at 40 µK temperature are thrown by accelerating optical tweezers, freely fly with up to a speed of 0.65 m/s and free-flying distance of 4.2 µm, and are recaptured and stopped by decelerating optical tweezers at a transportation efficiency of 94(3)%. Flying atoms suggest possible applications such as defect correction in a tweezer trap atom array, fast atom-array formation, Rydberg-atom collision studies, and dynamic quantum computing architectures.

arXiv:2212.01037OpticaFeb 13, 202331 citations

Multi-reservoir enhanced loading of tweezer atom arrays

Xu Yan, Chengdong He, Kai Wen +4 more

We introduce a method for improved loading into a single-atom optical tweezer array, utilizing iterative loading with multiple reservoir tweezers. Demonstrated with dual-wavelength tweezer arrays of Sr 88 atoms, our approach achieves a 96 % loading rate after four reload cycles. This method can significantly enhance existing tweezer rearrangement protocols and reduce optical power consumption for target tweezer arrays, thereby enabling a larger number of atoms in a quantum logic device. Our approach has the potential for implementation with different atomic species and combination with other enhanced loading methods.We introduce a method for improved loading into a single-atom optical tweezer array, utilizing iterative loading with multiple reservoir tweezers. Demonstrated with dual-wavelength tweezer arrays of Sr 88 atoms, our approach achieves a 96 % loading rate after four reload cycles. This method can significantly enhance existing tweezer rearrangement protocols and reduce optical power consumption for target tweezer arrays, thereby enabling a larger number of atoms in a quantum logic device. Our approach has the potential for implementation with different atomic species and combination with other enhanced loading methods.

arXiv:2407.11665Physical Review ResearchJan 8, 20254 citations

Quantum science with arrays of metastable helium-3 atoms

Zheyuan Li, Rupsa De, Rishi Sivakumar +7 more

The motion of atoms in programmable optical tweezer arrays offers many new opportunities for neutral atom quantum science. These include inter- and intra-site atom motion for resource-efficient implementations of fermionic and bosonic modes, respectively, as well as tweezer transport for efficient compilation of arbitrary circuits. However, the exploitation of atomic motion for all three purposes and others is limited by the inertia of the atoms. We present a comprehensive architectural blueprint for the use of fermionic metastable helium-3 ( $^3$ He $^*$ ) atoms -- the lightest trappable atomic species -- in programmable optical tweezer arrays. This includes a concrete analysis of atomic structure considerations as well as Rydberg-mediated interactions. We show that inter-tweezer hopping of $^3$ He $^*$ atoms can be $\gtrsim3\times$ faster than previous demonstrations with lithium-6. We also demonstrate a new toolbox for encoding and manipulating qubits directly in the tweezer trap potential, uniquely enabled by the light mass of $^3$ He $^*$ . Finally, we provide several examples of new opportunities for fermionic quantum simulation and computation that leverage the transport and inter-tweezer hopping of $^3$ He $^*$ atom arrays. These tools present new methods to improve the resource efficiency of neutral atom quantum science that may also enable quantum simulations of lattice gauge theories and quantum chemistry outside the Born-Oppenheimer approximationThe motion of atoms in programmable optical tweezer arrays offers many new opportunities for neutral atom quantum science. These include inter- and intra-site atom motion for resource-efficient implementations of fermionic and bosonic modes, respectively, as well as tweezer transport for efficient compilation of arbitrary circuits. However, the exploitation of atomic motion for all three purposes and others is limited by the inertia of the atoms. We present a comprehensive architectural blueprint for the use of fermionic metastable helium-3 ($^3$He$^*$) atoms -- the lightest trappable atomic species -- in programmable optical tweezer arrays. This includes a concrete analysis of atomic structure considerations as well as Rydberg-mediated interactions. We show that inter-tweezer hopping of $^3$He$^*$ atoms can be $\gtrsim3\times$ faster than previous demonstrations with lithium-6. We also demonstrate a new toolbox for encoding and manipulating qubits directly in the tweezer trap potential, uniquely enabled by the light mass of $^3$He$^*$. Finally, we provide several examples of new opportunities for fermionic quantum simulation and computation that leverage the transport and inter-tweezer hopping of $^3$He$^*$ atom arrays. These tools present new methods to improve the resource efficiency of neutral atom quantum science that may also enable quantum simulations of lattice gauge theories and quantum chemistry outside the Born-Oppenheimer approximation

quant-pharXiv:2601.06763PRX QuantumJan 13, 20261 citation

Atomic-scale optical tweezer: how to manipulate single atoms

Antoine Browaeys

Feb 12, 20090 citations

Manipulating single atoms with optical tweezers

Axel Kuhn

Jan 1, 20140 citations

^3

^*

) atoms -- the lightest trappable atomic species -- in programmable optical tweezer arrays. This includes a concrete analysis of atomic structure considerations as well as Rydberg-mediated interactions. We show that inter-tweezer hopping of

^3

^*

atoms can be

\gtrsim3\times

faster than previous demonstrations with lithium-6. We also demonstrate a new toolbox for encoding and manipulating qubits directly in the tweezer trap potential, uniquely enabled by the light mass of

^3

^*

. Finally, we provide several examples of new opportunities for fermionic quantum simulation and computation that leverage the transport and inter-tweezer hopping of

^3

^*

atom arrays. These tools present new methods to improve the resource efficiency of neutral atom quantum science that may also enable quantum simulations of lattice gauge theories and quantum chemistry outside the Born-Oppenheimer approximation