Holographic site-resolved detection of a 2D array of ultracold atoms

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In this project, we want to demonstrate a novel holographic technique for the site-resolved detection of a 2D gas of ultracold atoms in an optical lattice. The detection scheme is based on the coherent superposition of laser light scattered by the atomic array with a reference laser beam. Fourier transformation of the recorded intensity pattern reconstructs the atomic distribution with single-site resolution. We estimate that only about 150 photons need to be scattered per atom to detect its presence with 99% probability. Because of this low number of scattered photons, the detection method is expected to work without additional cooling and it could allow for detecting multiply occupied lattice sites. In addition, the holographic technique would be less expensive, work with simpler optics, and imaging with this technology would also be faster than with a quantum-gas microscope. Together all these characteristics would be important for advances in the field of ultracold atoms.