Half-minute-scale atomic coherence and high relative stability in a tweezer clock

Area of Science:

• Quantum Science and Technology
• Atomic Physics
• Quantum Metrology

Background:

• Preparing large, coherent quantum systems is crucial for quantum metrology, simulation, and information.
• Simultaneously achieving low entropy, high coherence, and large ensembles remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a hybrid approach for tailoring optical potentials in tweezer-trapped atoms.
• To balance scalability, high-fidelity state preparation, site-resolved readout, and coherence preservation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized tweezer-trapped alkaline-earth (strontium-88) atoms.
• Employed a hybrid approach to tailor optical potentials.
• Achieved site-resolved readout and preserved atomic coherence.

Main Results:

• Obtained trapping and excited-state lifetimes exceeding 40 seconds in ensembles of ~150 atoms.
• Demonstrated half-minute-scale atomic coherence on an optical-clock transition (quality factors > 10^16).
• Achieved a relative fractional frequency stability of 5.2(3) × 10^-17 τ^-1/2 for clock comparisons.

Conclusions:

• The developed method significantly reduces quantum projection noise, comparable to leading atomic systems.
• This approach paves the way for long-lived engineered entanglement on optical-clock transitions in tailored atom arrays.