Coherent control of Rydberg atoms using sub-kHz linewidth excitation lasers

This thesis presents the development of a new experimental apparatus for neutral atom quantum computing with Rydberg atoms. We describe the construction and characterisation of three continuous wave lasers stabilised simultaneously on a ultrahigh finesse Ultra-low-expansion (ULE) cavity, providing long-term stability and sub-kHz linewidth lasers with a tunable offset-lock frequency as required for high fidelity quantum operations. High-resolution spectroscopy on a cloud of cold Cs atoms was achieved using electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), in order to calibrate absolute cavity mode frequencies with respect to Rydberg transitions and determine the cavity long-term drift of ~1 Hz/s.;We have demonstrated trapping of single Cs atoms in optical tweezers and developed a high-resolution imaging system capable of sub-µm spatial resolution in the atom plane. Coherent control of atomic qubits has been achieved via fast rotations between long-lived hyperfine ground states as well as coherent Rydberg excitations towards the states 50S1/2, 69S1/2 and 81D5/2. The experiment allows us to control the atoms electric field environment and minimise stray electric fields with ~1 mV/cm sensitivity, in order to keep long ground-Rydberg coherence times.;We have observed Rydberg blockade between two atoms separated by 6 µm for both states 69S1/2 and 81D5/2, showing an almost complete suppression of the doubly excited state probability. The creation of an entangled state is deduced from the √2 collective-enhancement of the Rabi oscillations with respect to the single atom case. Our ability to perform double-atom experiment offers the opportunity to implement a proof of a principle of a cNOT mesoscopic gate based on EIT, using the Rydberg state 81D5/2 for high-fidelity operations.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral-pg

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Strathclyde

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Legaie, Rémy

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Pritchard, Jonathan

DOI

10.48730/j51x-be97

Identifier

T15587

Author Identifier

201585945

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:strathclyde:mk61rg92z