In the Sr Rydberg lab, we have successfully trapped individual Strontium atoms using a one-dimensional array of optical tweezers. The video demonstrates a sequence of experimental cycles, during which the presence of atoms is detected via fluorescence imaging. After loading multiple atoms in each optical tweezer, the occupancy is reduced to either zero or one atom exploiting a light-assisted collision mechanism which expels pairs of atoms. On average, we achieve 40% single-atom occupancy, with atoms randomly distributed across the array, as shown in the video. This work is a significant step towards the preparation of defect-free arrays of single atoms in optical tweezers, which will be the starting point for future quantum simulation experiments.

Our atomic source has arrived, as well as the first lasers, and testing is underway!

Special thanks to Yb lab for the hospitality.

Since 2015, the Friends of Sara Lapi Association has established a Degree Award named after Sara in collaboration with the University of Florence and in particular with the "Ugo Schiff" Department of Chemistry at the Scientific Center of Sesto Fiorentino. This year's award goes to Niccolò Preti for his thesis "Towards dipolar quantum gases in a ring". Well done!

We’ve successfully integrated the 679nm and 707nm lasers into our experiment. They improve the blue and red mot stages by closing two decay channels, leading to a factor of 10 increase in density that is helpful to move forward with our optical tweezers. Stay tuned for the next update!

We are immensely proud of Ludovica Donati, who successfully defended her PhD thesis, “Generating quantum coherence with incoherent radiation”. Her research deals with the production of Fano coherence in atomic systems induced by interactions with incoherent radiation, paving the way for the first detection of such phenomena on this platform. This achievement marks an important milestone in her academic career and we look forward to her future contributions to the scientific community. Congratulations, Dr. Donati! .

See also the thesis here