Single beam atom sorting machine

We create two overlapping one-dimensional optical lattices using a single laser beam, a spatial light modulator and a high numerical aperture lens. These lattices have the potential to trap single atoms, and using the dynamic capabilities of the spatial light modulator may shift and sort atoms to a minimum atom-atom separation of $1.52\mu$m. We show how a simple feedback circuit can compensate for the spatial light modulator’s intensity modulation.