Towards synthetic dimensions in potassium Rydberg atom arrays

Trapped neutral atoms in an optical tweezer array are a versatile and powerful quantum simulation platform. Here we present our work towards implementing a synthetic lattice of microwave-coupled Rydberg states in a defect-free 1D tweezer array of single ³⁹K atoms. We demonstrate efficient loading and cooling of potassium atoms into a uniformized 1D tweezer array, as well as evidence of coherent two-photon excitation to a Rydberg state. We also present progress towards producing a defect-free array via rearrangement of loaded tweezers. Finally, we explore Hamiltonian engineering of strongly interacting many-body models via the combination of microwave coupling of Rydberg levels and dipole-dipole interactions between atoms in adjacent tweezers.