Quantum mechanics

Optical tweezers

Coherence (philosophical gambling strategy)

Embedded system

Atomic clock

Atomic physics

Computer science

Coherence time

Atomic coherence

Laser

Physics

Quantum entanglement

Quantum network

Atom (system on chip)

Quantum

Quantum metrology

Enlighten: Publications (The University of Glasgow)

The preparation of large, low-entropy, highly coherent ensembles of identical quantum systems is foundational for many studies in quantum metrology, simulation, and information. Here, we realize these features by leveraging the favorable properties of tweezer-trapped alkaline-earth atoms while introducing a new, hybrid approach to tailoring optical potentials that balances scalability, high-fidelity state preparation, site-resolved readout, and preservation of atomic coherence. With this approach, we achieve trapping and optical clock excited-state lifetimes exceeding $ 40 $ seconds in ensembles of approximately $ 150 $ atoms. This leads to half-minute-scale atomic coherence on an optical clock transition, corresponding to quality factors well in excess of $10^{16}$. These coherence times and atom numbers reduce the effect of quantum projection noise to a level that is on par with leading atomic systems, yielding a relative fractional frequency stability of $5.2(3)\times10^{-17}~(\tau/s)^{-1/2}$ for synchronous clock comparisons between sub-ensembles within the tweezer array. When further combined with the microscopic control and readout available in this system, these results pave the way towards long-lived engineered entanglement on an optical clock transition in tailored atom arrays.

Half-minute-scale atomic coherence and high relative stability in a tweezer clock