Gray molasses cooling of ^{39}K atoms in optical tweezers
Robust cooling and nondestructive imaging are prerequisites for many emerging applications of neutral atoms trapped in optical tweezers, such as their use in quantum information science and analog quantum simulation. The tasks of cooling and imaging can be challenged, however, by the presence of lar...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Physical Society
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Physical Review Research |
| Online Access: | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.013240 |
| _version_ | 1797210824329134080 |
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| author | Jackson Ang'ong'a Chenxi Huang Jacob P. Covey Bryce Gadway |
| author_facet | Jackson Ang'ong'a Chenxi Huang Jacob P. Covey Bryce Gadway |
| author_sort | Jackson Ang'ong'a |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Robust cooling and nondestructive imaging are prerequisites for many emerging applications of neutral atoms trapped in optical tweezers, such as their use in quantum information science and analog quantum simulation. The tasks of cooling and imaging can be challenged, however, by the presence of large trap-induced shifts of their respective optical transitions. Here, we explore a system of ^{39}K atoms trapped in a near-detuned (780nm) optical tweezer, which leads to relatively minor differential (ground versus excited state) Stark shifts. We demonstrate that simple and robust loading, cooling, and imaging can be achieved through combined addressing of the D_{1} and D_{2} transitions. While imaging on the D_{2} transition, we can simultaneously apply Λ-enhanced gray molasses (GM) on the D_{1} transition, preserving low backgrounds for single-atom imaging through spectral filtering. Using D_{1} cooling during and after trap loading, we demonstrate enhanced loading efficiencies as well as cooling to low temperatures. These results suggest a simple and robust path for loading and cooling large arrays of potassium atoms in optical tweezers through the use of resource-efficient near-detuned optical tweezers and GM cooling. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:16:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e4c50e4682a24eebb681572110a09ae4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2643-1564 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:16:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | American Physical Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physical Review Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-e4c50e4682a24eebb681572110a09ae42024-04-12T17:19:21ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642022-03-014101324010.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.013240Gray molasses cooling of ^{39}K atoms in optical tweezersJackson Ang'ong'aChenxi HuangJacob P. CoveyBryce GadwayRobust cooling and nondestructive imaging are prerequisites for many emerging applications of neutral atoms trapped in optical tweezers, such as their use in quantum information science and analog quantum simulation. The tasks of cooling and imaging can be challenged, however, by the presence of large trap-induced shifts of their respective optical transitions. Here, we explore a system of ^{39}K atoms trapped in a near-detuned (780nm) optical tweezer, which leads to relatively minor differential (ground versus excited state) Stark shifts. We demonstrate that simple and robust loading, cooling, and imaging can be achieved through combined addressing of the D_{1} and D_{2} transitions. While imaging on the D_{2} transition, we can simultaneously apply Λ-enhanced gray molasses (GM) on the D_{1} transition, preserving low backgrounds for single-atom imaging through spectral filtering. Using D_{1} cooling during and after trap loading, we demonstrate enhanced loading efficiencies as well as cooling to low temperatures. These results suggest a simple and robust path for loading and cooling large arrays of potassium atoms in optical tweezers through the use of resource-efficient near-detuned optical tweezers and GM cooling.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.013240 |
| spellingShingle | Jackson Ang'ong'a Chenxi Huang Jacob P. Covey Bryce Gadway Gray molasses cooling of ^{39}K atoms in optical tweezers Physical Review Research |
| title | Gray molasses cooling of ^{39}K atoms in optical tweezers |
| title_full | Gray molasses cooling of ^{39}K atoms in optical tweezers |
| title_fullStr | Gray molasses cooling of ^{39}K atoms in optical tweezers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gray molasses cooling of ^{39}K atoms in optical tweezers |
| title_short | Gray molasses cooling of ^{39}K atoms in optical tweezers |
| title_sort | gray molasses cooling of 39 k atoms in optical tweezers |
| url | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.013240 |
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