Optimal control in phase space applied to minimal-time transfer of thermal atoms in optical traps *

Year: 2025

Authors: Morandi O., Nicoletti S., Gavryusev V., Fallani L.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Florence, Dept Math & Informat Ulisse Dini, Viale Morgagni 67-A, I-50134 Florence, Italy; Univ Florence, Dept Phys & Astron, Via G Sansone 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Univ Florence, European Lab Nonlinear Spect, Via N Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; CNR, Natl Inst Opt, Via N Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.

Abstract: We present an optimal control procedure for the nonadiabatic transport of ultracold neutral thermal atoms in optical tweezers arranged in a one-dimensional array, with the focus on reaching a minimal transfer time. The particle dynamics is modeled first using a classical approach through the Liouville equation and second through the quantum Wigner equation to include quantum effects. Both methods account for typical experimental noise described as stochastic effects through Fokker-Planck terms. The optimal control process is initialized with a trajectory computed for a single classical particle and determines the phase-space path that minimizes transport time and ensures high transport fidelity to the target trap. This approach provides a fast and efficient method for relocating atoms from an initial configuration to a desired target arrangement, minimizing time and energy costs while ensuring high fidelity. Such an approach may be highly valuable to initialize large atom arrays for quantum simulation or computation experiments.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW A

Volume: 111 (6)      Pages from: 63312-1  to: 63312-15

More Information: We acknowledge insightful discussions with Dr. Lorenzo Buffoni. The work was developed under the auspices of GNFM (INdAM). This project received funding from Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche PASQUA Infrastructure, QuantERA ERA-NET Cofund in Quantum Technologies project MENTA, from the Italian Ministry of Education and Research PRIN 2022SJCKAH HIGHEST, and, in the context of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and Next Generation EU, from Project No. PE0000023-NQSTI and from M4C2 investment 1.2 project MicroSpinEnergy (V.G.).
KeyWords: Single Atoms; Deterministic Preparation; Transport
DOI: 10.1103/d857-7cwr