Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Scalable Passive Optical Masks That Enable One- and Two-Species Atom-Trap Arrays

Chengyu Fang, Preston Huft, Sam A. Norrell, Sanket Deshpande, Mark E. Saffman, Mikhail A. Kats

Published Jan 1, 2024• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report a passive approach for trapping arrays of neutral atoms of one or two species, using a single laser. Compared to active setups, e.g., spatial light modulators, our approach is simple, compact, and robust.
DOI
10.1364/cleo_at.2024.ath3g.5

Related papers

Passive optical intensity masks for two-dimensional two-species atom-trap arrays

Chengyu Fang, Jared A. Miles, Joseph D. Murphree +10 more

We report the designs and the fabrication of optical intensity masks which enable trapping of two-dimensional arrays of cooled atoms of two atomic species, using single laser. Compared to previous realizations using active optical components, e.g., spatial light modulators, these passive optical masks reduce the complexity of neutral-atom experiments. The optical intensity masks are easily scalable to enable the trapping of large arrays of single atoms, enabling future applications in quantum sensing, networking, and computing.

Quantum Nanophotonic Materials, Devices, and Systems•Oct 4, 2024•0 citations

Metasurfaces for neutral-atom trapping

Chengyu Fang, Minjeong Kim, Mark Saffman +2 more

Trapped neutral atoms are one of the leading platforms for quantum information technologies, in particular for quantum computing, but scaling them to array sizes needed for utility-scale quantum computing is a major engineering challenge. Here we review optical metasurfaces as an enabling technology that provides fine control over the phase, amplitude, and polarization of light, with pixel counts far exceeding what is available with spatial light modulators (SLMs) and other active devices. The large pixel counts have recently led to demonstrations of arrays of optical tweezers with hundreds of thousands of sites and arrays of optical bottle-beams with complex three-dimensional trapping profiles. The flexibility and scalability of optical metasurfaces provides a route towards miniaturized, integrated, and highly scalable atomic experiments and instruments.

physics.opticsCross-listedarXiv:2605.30498•Optical Materials Express•Jun 1, 2026•0 citations

Simple, passive design for large optical trap arrays for single atoms

Preston Huft, Yunheung Song, Trent Graham +5 more

We present an approach for trapping cold atoms in a two-dimensional (2D) optical trap array generated with a $4f$ filtering scheme and custom transmission mask without any active device. The approach can be used to generate arrays of bright or dark traps, or both simultaneously with a single wavelength for forming two-species traps. We demonstrate the design by creating a 2D array of 1225 dark trap sites, where single Cs atoms are loaded into regions of near-zero intensity in an approximately Gaussian profile trap. Moreover, we demonstrate a simple solution to the problem of out-of-focus trapped atoms, which occurs due to the Talbot effect in periodic optical lattices. Using a high power yet low cost spectrally and spatially broadband laser, out-of-focus interference is mitigated, leading to near perfect removal of Talbot plane traps.

arXiv:2204.07788•Physical Review A•Jun 27, 2022•40 citations

Holographic generation of micro-trap arrays for single atoms

S. Bergamini, Benoît Darquié, Matt Jones +3 more

We have generated multiple micron-sized optical dipole traps for neutral atoms using holographic techniques with a programmable liquid crystal spatial light modulator. The setup allows the storing of a single atom per trap, and the addressing and manipulation of individual trapping sites.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2004•4 citations

Optical tweezers for manipulating single atoms

Lukas Brandt, Cecilia Muldoon, Edouard Brainis +1 more

Our goal is to realize a scalable cluster of entangled atoms trapped in fully controllable arrays of optical tweezers. The optical-tweezers array we are currently implementing consists of a freely configurable two-dimensional array of dipole-force traps, which we obtain by imaging the intensity pattern from a spatial-light modulator (SLM) into our apparatus. In every dipole trap, the intensity gradient gives rise to a force that confines the atom to an effective potential well.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•Jun 1, 2009•1 citation

Control and manipulation of cold atoms in optical tweezers

Cecilia Muldoon, Lukas Brandt, Jian Dong +4 more

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.

arXiv:1109.0657•New Journal of Physics•Jul 27, 2012•65 citations
We report the designs and the fabrication of optical intensity masks which enable trapping of two-dimensional arrays of cooled atoms of two atomic species, using single laser. Compared to previous realizations using active optical components, e.g., spatial light modulators, these passive optical masks reduce the complexity of neutral-atom experiments. The optical intensity masks are easily scalable to enable the trapping of large arrays of single atoms, enabling future applications in quantum sensing, networking, and computing.
Trapped neutral atoms are one of the leading platforms for quantum information technologies, in particular for quantum computing, but scaling them to array sizes needed for utility-scale quantum computing is a major engineering challenge. Here we review optical metasurfaces as an enabling technology that provides fine control over the phase, amplitude, and polarization of light, with pixel counts far exceeding what is available with spatial light modulators (SLMs) and other active devices. The large pixel counts have recently led to demonstrations of arrays of optical tweezers with hundreds of thousands of sites and arrays of optical bottle-beams with complex three-dimensional trapping profiles. The flexibility and scalability of optical metasurfaces provides a route towards miniaturized, integrated, and highly scalable atomic experiments and instruments.
We present an approach for trapping cold atoms in a two-dimensional (2D) optical trap array generated with a 4f4f4f filtering scheme and custom transmission mask without any active device. The approach can be used to generate arrays of bright or dark traps, or both simultaneously with a single wavelength for forming two-species traps. We demonstrate the design by creating a 2D array of 1225 dark trap sites, where single Cs atoms are loaded into regions of near-zero intensity in an approximately Gaussian profile trap. Moreover, we demonstrate a simple solution to the problem of out-of-focus trapped atoms, which occurs due to the Talbot effect in periodic optical lattices. Using a high power yet low cost spectrally and spatially broadband laser, out-of-focus interference is mitigated, leading to near perfect removal of Talbot plane traps.
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.