Molecules in optical tweezers

Tweezer experimental apparatus showing the vacuum chamber where we create arrays of individually trapped RbCs molecules.

420 nm laser light used to excite Rb atoms to energetic Rydberg states.

Congratulations to Dr. Stefan Spence of the Tweezer lab for a successful viva defence!

Some of the lasers used from trapping and control of Rb and Cs atoms in our lab.

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Overview

This experiment aims to explore new avenues of quantum science with ultracold polar molecules by forming single RbCs molecules in optical tweezers by associating individual Rb and Cs atoms.

Controllable arrays of ultracold molecules offer an exciting new platform for quantum experiments. For example, such arrays may be used for quantum simulation of problems ubiquitous to condensed matter physics such as lattice spin models. Alternatively, with precise single-site control, the molecules may be independently moved around and merged together in miniature particle colliders, allowing for the study of ultracold chemistry on a single particle level where quantum effects dominate.

The group has recently realised the formation of ground state RbCs molecules trapped in individual tweezers. We are now studying the interactions of these molecules with Rb Rydberg atoms with the aim of creating a hybrid quantum system.

Watch our short video to learn more about our work:

Lab publications

Papers

[6] Enhanced quantum control of individual ultracold molecules using optical tweezer arrays
Daniel K. Ruttley, Alexander Guttridge, Tom R. Hepworth, and Simon L. Cornish
arXiv:2401.13593 (2024)

[5] Observation of Rydberg blockade due to the charge-dipole interaction between an atom and a polar molecule
Alexander Guttridge*, Daniel K. Ruttley*, Archie C. Baldock, Rosario González-Férez, H. R. Sadeghpour, C. S. Adams, and Simon L. Cornish
Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 013401 (2023)

[4] Formation of ultracold molecules by merging optical tweezers
Daniel K. Ruttley*, Alexander Guttridge*, Stefan Spence, Robert C. Bird, C. Ruth Le Sueur, Jeremy M. Hutson, and Simon L. Cornish
Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 223401 (2023)

[3] Feshbach spectroscopy of Cs atom pairs in optical tweezers
R. V. Brooks*, Alexander Guttridge*, Matthew D. Frye, Daniel K. Ruttley, Stefan Spence, Jeremy M. Hutson, and Simon L. Cornish
New J. Phys. 24, 113051 (2022)

[2] Preparation of ⁸⁷Rb and ¹³³Cs in the motional ground state of a single optical tweezer
Stefan Spence, R. V. Brooks, Daniel K. Ruttley, Alexander Guttridge, and Simon L. Cornish
New J. Phys. 24, 103022 (2022)

[1] Preparation of ⁸⁷Rb and ¹³³Cs in the motional ground state of a single optical tweezer
R. V. Brooks, Stefan Spence, Alexander Guttridge, A. Alampounti, A. Rakonjac, L. A. McArd, Jeremy M. Hutson, and Simon L. Cornish
New J. Phys. 23, 065002 (2021)

PhD theses

Stefan Spence: Assembling Single RbCs Molecules with Optical Tweezers (2023)

Vincent Brooks: Control and Collisions of ⁸⁷Rb and ¹³³Cs Atoms in Optical Tweezers (2022)