Photo-ionization Compensation of Stray Electric Fields for Cold Rydberg Atoms

Abstract

Neurtal atoms in optical tweezer arrays constitute a highly promising platform for quantum computing and quantum simulation. Their operation relies on precise control of the Rydberg excitation, which is highly sensitive to background electric fields. Here, we identify a previously overlooked source of stray electric fields arising from trapped charges within the antireflection coating layers of glass vacuum cells. In contrast to the conventional approach of removing surface charges through ultraviolet-light-induced desorption, we compensate these clamped charges by generating additional charges via photo-ionization of a cold atomic ensemble. We verify the resulting suppression of stray electric fields through Rydberg excitation spectroscopy in an atomic array and further confirm that the residual electric field inside the vacuum cell is effectively eradicated with the aid of external electrodes. Our work identifies and mitigates a previously unrecognized source of residual electric field, providing a practical solution for improving the performance of neutral atomic quantum processors and other Rydberg-based quantum technologies, as well as surface-sensitive atomic systems.