I present recent progress in loading and manipulation of neutral atoms in microscopic optical traps. Single Rb atoms are loaded into far off resonant optical traps from a background vapor of cold atoms. Tightly focused optical beams are used to perform two-photon stimulated Raman rotations between hyperfine qubit states. We demonstrate qubit rotations at a rate of 1.4 MHz, 1 ms coherence time, and individual site addressing with crosstalk at the level of 0.001.

Strong interaction of atoms excited to Rydberg levels provides a mechanism for fast two-qubit gates. We discuss the physics of multiatom coupling due to Forster energy hopping, and demonstrate suppression of multiple excitation of Rydberg states in small atom clouds confined to a microscopic optical trap. These results are a significant step towards quantum computing using optically trapped neutral atoms.

Seminar, 26th of April, 11:30h. Conference Room