Microtrap arrays on magnetic film atom chips for quantum information science

We present two different strategies for developing a quantum information science platform, based on our experimental results with magnetic microtrap arrays on a magnetic-film atom chip. The first strategy aims for mesoscopic ensemble qubits in a lattice of ~5 {\mu}m period, so that qubits can be individually addressed and interactions can be mediated by Rydberg excitations. The second strategy aims for direct quantum simulators using sub-optical lattices of ~100 nm period. These would allow the realization of condensed matter inspired quantum many-body systems, such as Hubbard models in new parameter regimes. The two approaches raise quite different issues, some of which are identified and discussed.
Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, submitted to special issue "Quantum Information with Neutral Particles" of "Quantum Information Processing"