A platform for rapid integration of cold atoms and exotic optical resonators

Cavity QED—the interaction between cavity-confined photons and atoms—is a powerful platform for exploring quantum manybody physics and quantum information science. Here we focus on developing a tool for rapid testing of exotic optical cavities, including those with twist to induce gauge fields for light, those with lenses to reduce aberrations and improve mode degeneracy, and those with small waists to directly boost their single-atom cooperativity. An ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environment is essential for integration with a laser-cooled atomic gas, but limits our ability to rapidly benchmark the performance of new cavity models. We address this challenge with a next-gen vacuum chamber design incorporating a load-lock architecture that isolates the loading chamber from the science chamber, and allows us to install and bake new cavities in the loading chamber without compromising the vacuum in the science chamber, thereby facilitating faster project turnaround. I will introduce this new apparatus, describe relevant design challenges, and present our progress towards integration with atoms and optical resonators.