Combining Nanophotonic Cavity-Arrays with Atomic Arrays: Scaling Quantum Computers and Networks

Neutral atom arrays have emerged as one of the leading platforms for quantum computation and simulation. Integrating these arrays with photonic interfaces, such as optical cavities, enables high-speed qubit readout, efficient atom-photon entanglement, and novel quantum simulation capabilities through long-range interactions. However, achieving scalable and efficient integration of atom arrays with photonic structures remains a significant challenge. In this work, we present an atom-array cavity-array platform that integrates cesium atom arrays with a photonic chip containing over 100 nanophotonic cavities. This platform inherently supports multiplexing by allowing simultaneous interactions between multiple atoms and multiple cavities, a crucial capability for scaling up quantum information processing and networking. To enable this integration, we develop three key techniques: (1) a backgroundfree imaging scheme utilizing excited-state transitions in cesium with fidelity exceeding 99%, (2) a photonic chip design optimized for efficient atom loading, and (3) a free-space coupling scheme achieving over 65% waveguide-to-fiber coupling efficiency. We demonstrate collisional blockade-limited loading of atom arrays near the photonic chip, parallel transport of atoms to multiple cavities, a key capability that enables the multiplexing required in quantum networks and distributed quantum computing. Finally, we show an array of resonant telecom cavities, and multiple theoretical architectures to make use of these to distribute entanglement across hundreds of kilometers. These results address critical challenges in atom-photon integration and pave the way for scalable quantum information processing.