Design and assembly of a cavity microscope with high numerical aperture for quantum simulations

Area of Science:

• Quantum physics
• Atomic physics
• Optical systems

Background:

• Quantum simulations require advanced experimental setups.
• Cavity quantum electrodynamics (cQED) is crucial for controlling quantum systems.
• Existing cavity microscope designs have limitations in optical access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and assemble a novel cavity microscope for quantum simulations.
• To improve imaging and atomic manipulation capabilities in ultracold atom systems.
• To enable precise control over atom-cavity coupling for advanced quantum protocols.

Main Methods:

• Integration of a high-finesse optical cavity with high-numerical aperture lenses.
• Utilizing a rigid, single-block structure for stability.
• Maximizing optical access in directions transverse to the cavity axis.

Main Results:

• The cavity microscope operates deep in the strong coupling regime with high finesse (2.35 × 10^4).
• Each lens provides a numerical aperture of 0.52, offering maximal optical access.
• The design effectively utilizes the solid angle for enhanced imaging and manipulation.

Conclusions:

• The developed cavity microscope offers superior performance for quantum simulations.
• This system is compatible with various quantum gas microscopy applications.
• It paves the way for future cavity-assisted quantum simulation protocols with sub-cavity-mode control.