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.

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 have atoms trapped in optical tweezers! The journey has been long, and the excitement in the lab was palpable when we saw the first signatures in fluorescence imaging. The next important step will be to implement light-assisted collisions and in-trap cooling to reach single atom occupancy per tweezer!

Big news from the lab! After months of hard work, we’ve successfully developed both a broadband red MOT and a single-frequency red MOT. The atom density is up to two orders of magnitude larger than in the blue MOT, while the temperature is approximately 10 micro Kelvin. Now we’re excited to take the next step—time to trap some atoms in optical tweezers!

We have completed the optical setup for the 689 nm laser source that will be employed for further cool the Strontium atoms by a factor of 1000 in a red 3D MOT, in order to reach a temperature of few micro Kelvin. A significant challenge we faced was stabilizing the frequency of the red laser to a very stable and very high finesse ultra-low expansion cavity.

We’ve reached a significant milestone in our experiment — our Blue MOT is up and running! After carefully characterizing the setup including optimizing parameters like blue imaging power, timing, polarization, and alignment, we are proud to report that we have captured approximately 1 million atoms. The density is 10⁹ cm^-3, which sets a strong foundation for the next steps in our project. The next phase will focus on achieving a broadband red MOT and a single-frequency red MOT. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue pushing forward!

We have completed the optical setup for a 461 nm laser source that will be employed for slowing down, capturing in a 3D MOT and imaging Strontium atoms in the FloRydberg platform.

Blue MOT, we will be there soon!

We finished the assembly and baking of a really compact ultra-high vacuum apparatus.

Ready to host Strontium atoms!.