Progress Towards Scalable Quantum Manipulation using Two Atomic Species in Independent Optical Lattices

Advances in quantum information and quantum simulation require novel experimental techniques to provide precise control at the quantum level. One bosonic and one fermionic species of ultra-cold neutral atoms, trapped in overlapping, independently controlled optical lattices offers a promising system for such manipulations. After initial cooling, Pauli exclusion allows fermionic $^{6}$Li to be loaded with high fidelity unit occupancy into one lattice. Bosonic $^{133}$Cs atoms can be loaded with much lower occupancy into a second lattice to act as messenger atoms. By relative translation of the lattices using an electro-optic modulator array, the atomic wavefunctions of a Cs and any given Li atom can be overlapped and entangled through a molecular state. Scalability is inherent since a single Cs atom can be moved between any two distant Li atoms. Our initial studies will focus on interspecies collision properties, which will guide strategies to implement entangling operations.