Generating low disorder and low aberration optical potentials with a spatiotemporally incoherent light source

Quantum simulation using ultracold atoms demands exceptional control over optical potentials, which play an important role, for instance, in advanced cooling and state preparation techniques [1]. There have been a variety of approaches in shaping these potentials, from applying a spatial light modulator (SLM) in the image and Fourier plane to using various degrees of incoherent light sources to minimize undesired interference patterns projected onto the atoms [2, 3]. Since then, people have continued to devise different methods to further increase control.

I will report on an optical system which uses spatiotemporally incoherent light, shaped by two digital micromirror devices (DMD), one in the image plane and the other in the Fourier plane. Utilizing two DMD’s with incoherent light allows us to project arbitrary waveforms via the image plane DMD and correct aberrations via the Fourier plane DMD. This serves as a proof-of-principle setup for a future implementation using a deformable mirror in the Fourier plane, which would yield a higher efficiency. Furthermore, I will describe the ongoing characterization of the system and its application to optical projections relevant to ultracold gas experiments.

[1] C. Gross and I. Bloch, Science 357, 995-1001 (2017)

[2] P. Zupancic et al., Opt. Express 24, 13881-13893 (2016)

[3] S. Hubele, “Potential Shaping Using a DMD and High-Resolution Imaging of Cesium Atoms in Optical Lattices”, LMU and MPQ (2023)