Atomic physics on a 50-nm scale: Realization of a bilayer system of dipolar atoms

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Du, Li; Barral, Pierre; Cantara, Michael; de Hond, Julius; Lu, Yu-Kun; Ketterle, Wolfgang
• 署名单位: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); Amazon.com
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-14033
• DOI: 10.1126/science.adh3023
• 发表日期: 2024-05-03
• 页码: 546-551
• 关键词: quantum gases; ultracold

摘要

Controlling ultracold atoms with laser light has greatly advanced quantum science. The wavelength of light sets a typical length scale for most experiments to the order of 500 nanometers (nm) or greater. In this work, we implemented a super-resolution technique that localizes and arranges atoms on a sub-50-nm scale, without any fundamental limit in resolution. We demonstrate this technique by creating a bilayer of dysprosium atoms and observing dipolar interactions between two physically separated layers through interlayer sympathetic cooling and coupled collective excitations. At 50-nm distance, dipolar interactions are 1000 times stronger than at 500 nm. For two atoms in optical tweezers, this should enable purely magnetic dipolar gates with kilohertz speed.