Towards quantum simulation with sodium atoms in Rydberg states

Arrays of neutral atoms in optical tweezers have become a reliable platform for implementing quantum simulation and computation protocols. Their long lifetimes allow for repeated interrogations without loss, while the ability to excite the atoms to Rydberg states introduces strong interactions between particles, thereby opening the path for studies of strongly interacting systems, exotic quantum phases and quantum magnetism. So far, we have used D1 magic wavelength tweezers to scale up the atom array size. Here, we report on our progress towards realizing interactions between the singly trapped sodium atoms. After initializing the atomic state by optical pumping, we couple the atoms to the Rydberg state via two-photon transitions. These techniques combined with the scaling up of array sizes will enable us to explore intricate many-body systems with tunable interactions.