Exploring a neutral-atom SWAP gate with clock states

Recent work in our group demonstrated the essential components of a neutral-atom $\sqrt{\rm SWAP}$ gate using exchange oscillations in a dynamically-deformable double-well optical lattice. This result demonstrated the feasibility of quantum gates driven by controlled exchange interactions. The observed oscillations, while long-lived, had limited contrast due to a multitude of experimental issues. We have moved our operating qubits from the $|F=1,m_F=-1\rangle$, $|F=1,m_F=0\rangle$ pair to the hyperfine clock state, eliminating considerable concern over magnetic-field issues. We present observations of this improved operation, as well as exploration of stroboscopic deformation of the double-well lattice.