Atoms in optical tweezers

I collaborated with a professor from Virginia Tech's Physics Department to create a figure for their paper, Scaling of Computational Order Parameters in Rydberg Atom Graph States. The paper focuses on building and testing graph states, a type of quantum state with applications in quantum computing. The researchers aimed to construct these graph states and demonstrate their use for measurement-based quantum computing. 

The figure schematically depicts the experimental setup, showing a two-dimensional array of atoms held in place by optical tweezers, arranged in a square lattice. Each atom represents a vertex of the graph state. Connecting lines visualize the nearest-neighbor interactions between atoms that are used to establish the edges of the graph state. Additionally, the figure indicates a "domain" within the array, illustrating the area limited by errors where measurement-based logic can be performed.

The researcher initially provided an abstract description and a rough sketch of the setup, requiring me to bring it to life and to creatively conceptualize elements like the atom interactions and optical tweezers. The challenge was to create a scientifically accurate and informative illustration while ensuring it was visually appealing. After a couple of proposals and iterations, we settled on the one that was ultimately published.