Rydberg blockade in three-atom systems
ORAL
Abstract
The control of individual neutral atoms in arrays of optical tweezers is a promising avenue for quantum science and technology [1,2]. Here we demonstrate unprecedented control over a system of three Rydberg atoms arranged in linear and triangular configurations. The interaction between Rydberg atoms results in the observation of an almost perfect van der Waals blockade [3]. When the single-atom Rabi frequency for excitation to the Rydberg state is comparable to the interaction energy, we directly observe the anisotropy of the interaction between nD--states. Using the independently measured two-body interaction energy shifts we fully reproduce the dynamics of the three-atom system with a model based on a master equation without any adjustable parameter. Combined with our ability to trap single atoms in arbitrary patterns of 2D arrays of up to 100 traps separated by a few microns, these results are very promising for a scalable implementation of quantum simulation of frustrated quantum magnetism with Rydberg atoms. \\[4pt] [1] E.~Urban \emph{et at.}, \emph{Nat. Phys.} \textbf{5} 110 (2009).\\[0pt] [2] A.~Gaetan \emph{et at.}, \emph{Nat. Phys.} \textbf{5} 115 (2009).\\[0pt] [3] L.~Beguin, A.~Vernier, R.~Chicireanu, T.~Lahaye, and A.~Browaeys, \emph{Phys. Rev. Lett.} \textbf{110} 263201 (2013).