Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics

Atomic, molecular and optical physics lies at the intersection of quantum mechanics and electromagnetic theory, providing the fundamental framework for our understanding of matter and light. Pioneering experiments in spectroscopy, laser cooling and trapping, and ultrafast dynamics have revealed that atoms and molecules are governed by discrete energy states and intricate electron correlations. Techniques such as high‐resolution X‐ray diffraction, multiphoton ionization and state‐resolved coincidence spectroscopy now enable researchers to probe transient phenomena and energy redistribution at unprecedented temporal and spatial scales. These insights are not only refining our models of atomic structure and chemical reactivity but are also driving new quantum technological applications ranging from precision metrology and atomic clocks to quantum information processing.

Research in Nature Index

Recent developments in AMO physics show a vibrant and fast-moving field exploring various quantum phenomena: • Large-Scale Neutral-Atom Quantum Processors. Recent work has demonstrated atomic qubits arranged in two-dimensional arrays, enabling programmable quantum logic operations on tens of qubits [1,2]. A notable study has pushed reconfigurable, error-corrected atom arrays with up to 280 physical qubits, showing that neutral-atom processors can rival other quantum-computing architectures [1]. • Tunable Quantum Simulators. Two-dimensional quantum simulations have progressed in studies of Ising-type spin models using trapped neutral atoms excited to Rydberg states [2,3]. By manipulating the spatial configuration and strong interactions of the Rydberg atoms, these simulators can help reveal elusive quantum phases, such as novel ordered states and critical points. • Optical Clock Networks. Improved optical clock networks now enable frequency ratio measurements with accuracy at the 10⁻¹⁸ level [4]. Such precision enhances tests of fundamental physics, including searches for possible couplings between dark matter and standard-model fields. • Atom-based Inertial Sensing. New quantum sensors based on atomic interferometry achieve high-resolution gravity cartography, enabling sub-metre-scale underground imaging [5]. These instruments, leveraging trapped or free-dropping ultracold atoms, offer unprecedented sensitivity for geophysical and engineering applications. • Hybrid Quantum Platforms. Experiments now combine disparate quantum systems—cold atoms, superconducting circuits, ion traps—to harness complementary strengths [1,6]. This hybridisation paves the way for improved quantum information processing, sensing, and metrology, overcoming limitations of any single platform. Collectively, these and other investigations highlight a strong nexus of quantum simulation, sensing and computation, indicating future directions for high-fidelity entanglement, error correction and large-scale quantum processors with thousands of physical qubits.

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Technical terms

Technical term: Rydberg state. Highly excited atomic state featuring an electron orbiting at a large distance from the nucleus, thus exhibiting strong and tunable long-range interactions.

Technical term: Optical clock. A frequency standard using an optical transition in atoms or ions as a reference, enabling ultra-precise timekeeping.

Technical term: Quantum simulator. A specialised arrangement of quantum systems (e.g., atoms in optical lattices) used to mimic complex quantum models that are otherwise numerically intractable.

Technical term: Atom interferometry. A technique using the superposition and interference of atomic wavefunctions to measure inertial effects (e.g., gravitational fields) with ultra-high sensitivity.

References

1. Logical quantum processor based on reconfigurable atom arrays. Nature (2023).
2. Quantum phases of matter on a 256-atom programmable quantum simulator. Nature (2021).
3. Probing many-body dynamics on a 51-atom quantum simulator. Nature (2017).
4. Frequency ratio measurements at 18-digit accuracy using an optical clock network. Nature (2021).
5. Quantum sensing for gravity cartography. Nature (2022).
6. A quantum processor based on coherent transport of entangled atom arrays. Nature (2022).

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