Project: Hollow-core fiber atom guide for quantum devices

Acronym	QuantumGuide
Duration	01/06/2022 - 31/05/2025
Project Topic	Many quantum technologies are built around the manipulation of isolated atoms in ultra-high vacuum systems. Yet, the source of these atoms generally comes in the form of an “oven” which operates at elevated temperatures and under much higher pressures, leading to increased background gas load and unavoidable contamination of surfaces in the vicinity of the source. In many cases, mitigating the potential contamination results in a much larger device footprint than would technically be required - simply to allow for sufficient differential pumping and isolation between “core” and “loading” sections of an apparatus. The QuantumGuide project aims to fundamentally solve this problem through the development of a fiber-based delivery system for atoms based on laser guiding through a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber. Building on established and already demonstrated concepts in this area, we will develop and experimentally verify a framework that allows for a tailoring and performance prediction of the delivery system to specific use cases, which include optical lattice clocks, trapped-ion based quantum computers and quantum simulators. Specifically, we will demonstrate fiber-based delivery of neutral atoms (Ca, Hg, Rb, Sr) to both room temperature and cryogenic experimental platforms, characterizing loading and leak-rates as well as the effective atom temperatures under different operating regimes. We further expect our framework and experimental designs to be applicable to a wider range of scientific applications such as the synchrotron and X-ray free electron laser beamlines, available at one of our partner institutions. Our consortium brings together 4 research groups and one company across 4 countries, with each partner specializing in one use case. This ensures both a broad approach to the task as well as a tangible outcome in the form of a versatile, commercial grade fiber atom source that can be adapted to the specific needs of a given experiment. This new product will be made available through our SME-partner AQT at the end of the project.
Network	QuantERA II
Call	QuantERA II Call 2021

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	University of Bonn	Coordinator	Germany
2	Technische Universität Darmstadt	Partner	Germany
3	Alpine Quantum Technologies	Partner	Austria
4	Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun	Partner	Poland
5	Paul Scherrer Institute	Partner	Switzerland