Single-Atom Trapping in Holographic 2D Arrays of Microtraps with Arbitrary Geometries

Abstract

We demonstrate single-atom trapping in two-dimensional arrays of microtraps with arbitrary geometries. We generate the arrays using a spatial light modulator, with which we imprint an appropriate phase pattern on an optical dipole-trap beam prior to focusing. We trap single ^{87}Rb atoms in the sites of arrays containing up to approximately 100 microtraps separated by distances as small as 3 μm, with complex structures such as triangular, honeycomb, or kagome lattices. Using a closed-loop optimization of the uniformity of the trap depths ensures that all trapping sites are equivalent. This versatile system opens appealing applications in quantum-information processing and quantum simulation, e.g., for simulating frustrated quantum magnetism using Rydberg atoms.