Scalable optical tweezer array

This technology is a holographic metasurface optical tweezer array method with the potential for over 100,000 traps for single atoms.

Unmet Need: Optical tweezer with robust and consistent trap arrays

Optical tweezer arrays are used to trap and manipulate atoms and molecules for research in a variety of disciplines such as biology, medicine, and quantum optics. Current methods to generate optical tweezer arrays utilize active beam-shaping devices, but due to technical complexity, array sizes are limited to fewer than 10,000 traps. These fundamental constraints in array geometry, size, and scalability hinder quantum applications. Developing methods to increase the number of traps while maintaining uniformity is crucial for atomic and molecular control.

The Technology: Scalable and uniform metasurface optical tweezer array

This technology is an optical tweezer array that utilizes holographic metasurfaces to realize two-dimensional arrays with arbitrary geometries, while demonstrating single-atom preparation and detection with high fidelity. Trap spacings are all as small as 1.5 µm, and traps are uniform throughout the array in depth, frequency, and positional accuracy. Due to sub-micrometer and sub-wavelength pixel sizes, the potential for over 100,000 traps is possible, surpassing current optical tweezer methods.

Applications:

  • Quantum computation
  • Quantum simulation
  • Quantum metrology
  • Research tool for new imaging devices

Advantages:

  • Trap uniformity in depth, frequency, and position
  • Micrometer trap spacings
  • Scalable to over 100,000 traps

Lead Inventor:

Sebastian Will, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Pending

Tech Ventures Reference: