Towards Rydberg excitations in magnetic lattices on atom chips

This thesis contributes to the quantum platform based on an atom chip. In our atom chip, atoms are trapped by means of a magnetic field. This magnetic field is created by a very thin layer of a permanently magnetized material, which is etched to create a periodic structure. Together with an applied homogeneous bias field this structure creates a periodic lattice of magnetic field minima. Cold atoms are trapped in these minima (so called microtraps). In our experiment we want to induce interaction between atoms in different lattice sites by exciting them into so-called Rydberg states: atomic states with a very large principal quantum number. These states have some extreme properties: very strong van der Waals interaction, polarizability, and long lifetimes. This makes Rydberg atoms promising candidates to build a quantum platform. In this thesis we investigate different challenges that one encounters on the way to a quantum platform based on an atom chip with Rydberg atoms. In chapter 2 we present our work on a spatial light modulator (SLM). In chapter 3 we present our experimental results on measuring and controlling stray electric fields on our atom chip. In chapter 4 we construct a comprehensive model, describing such mechanisms in order to describe the measured fields as well as its dynamical change. In chapter 5 we present a setup for our new Magchips Nano experiment. Finally, in chapter 6 we present our first steps, taken to bring the new Magchips Nano machine to life.