Towards Enhanced Loading and Quantum Simulation in a new NaCs Tweezer Array Apparatus

To harness the potential of ultracold polar molecules for both quantum computation and quantum simulation, we propose a hybrid system consisting of a programmable array of optical tweezers and an optical lattice for quantum simulation and computation. Prior efforts in our group achieved the assembly of single NaCs molecules in a 1D array of optical tweezers and the observation of coherent dipolar interactions between molecules. Building from this foundation, this new system will scale-up to two-dimensions with hundreds of individually-controllable molecules. In the pursuit of unity-filling, we investigate a new method combining broad tweezers with cold gases of atoms as a starting point to create small, dense ensembles of molecules. We then plan to leverage electric field shielding techniques and spilling to isolate single ground-state molecules in a tweezer. With the large system size and high loading, this apparatus can study new regimes in the extended Bose-Hubbard model and pursue quantum computation gates. In addition, we detail features of our ongoing construction including an in-vacuum electrode system to polarize our molecules, water-coolable Feshbach coils, and a dual-species 2D+ MOT.