Towards a continuously reloaded Yb-Rb neutral atom array for quantum computing and simulation

Neutral atom arrays have emerged as a promising platform for quantum simulation of many-body systems and quantum information processing. The reconfigurability of atom arrays and strong Rydberg interactions between optically trapped atoms have enabled the first implementations of logical quantum circuits and studies of many-body physics in synthetic quantum systems. However, significant challenges remain: extending the platform's flexibility for broader quantum algorithm applications, improving circuit speed and fidelity, and developing new tools for quantum simulation, such as advanced state characterization and Hamiltonian engineering.

We present progress toward a dual-species neutral atom array platform using rubidium and ytterbium atoms, an alkali and alkaline-earth-like species pairing that provides complementary properties for flexible qubit encoding and enables asymmetric multiqubit interactions. We demonstrate simultaneous optical transport of atoms from a dual species MOT to the science region, which will enable continuously reloaded qubit arrays while preserving coherence in the system. We further report progress on single-atom loading and cooling, as well as independent control of both Rb and Yb qubits, with characterization of optical tweezer configurations as part of the multi-zone architecture of our apparatus. These developments establish a foundation for exploiting interspecies interactions and hybrid qubit encoding schemes to access new regimes of quantum computing and simulation beyond single-species platforms.