Dutch Physicist Builds Simulator to Control Individual Atoms
Eindhoven, Sunday, 13 September 2026.
Physicist Rianne Lous has built a custom quantum simulator that controls individual atoms, turning abstract physics into a tangible tool to accelerate computing and materials research.
Bridging Theory and Control in Quantum Computing
The boundary between theoretical quantum physics and practical engineering is rapidly dissolving, particularly within the fields of quantum computing and photonics [2][4]. At the forefront of this transition is Rianne Lous, an Assistant Professor in the Coherence and Quantum Technology group within the Department of Applied Physics and Science Education at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in Eindhoven, Netherlands [1][2]. Since the summer of 2022, Lous has been developing the SIntAQS (Sensing Interactions in Atomic Quantum Systems) simulator, a custom-built quantum simulator designed to mimic complex physical systems by controlling individual atoms [1]. This innovation transitions quantum mechanics from an abstract concept into a highly controllable experimental tool, laying the groundwork for advanced atomic-scale simulations [1].
How the SIntAQS Simulator Operates
The SIntAQS simulator operates as a closed, particle-filled vessel designed specifically to measure and manipulate fundamental atomic interactions, including attraction, repulsion, energy absorption, energy release, and quantum entanglement [1]. The experimental setup, located in the Qubit building at TU/e, allows researchers to use a “figurative knob” to adjust the physical distance between particles, thereby directly modifying the strength of their magnetic attraction [1]. Lous, who manages a development team consisting of eight students and two PhD candidates, describes the simulator as being in a “stubborn toddler phase” that requires frequent debugging and custom-made components [1]. The ultimate objective of this meticulous atomic manipulation is to construct the most precise calculator possible, allowing researchers to steer atoms with complete mastery [1].
A Robust Strontium Tweezer Apparatus
The research has recently expanded through the Neutral Atom Kat-1 Collaboration, a joint initiative between the Eindhoven University of Technology and the University of Amsterdam (UvA) [4]. In August 2026, the collaboration published a cover article in the journal AIP Advances detailing a robust strontium (Sr) tweezer apparatus [4]. This hardware traps ultra-cold strontium atoms in a 5x5 grid of optical tweezers, where each individual tweezer holds exactly one atom [4]. To maintain the micro-kelvin temperatures necessary for quantum computing, the apparatus employs a novel deflection stage that successfully isolates the hot strontium oven from the cold trapped atoms [4]. Furthermore, the system’s laser technologies are stabilized using a frequency source located 100 kilometers away at the VSL National Metrology Institute, with the stabilizing signals distributed directly to the Eindhoven laboratory via optical fiber [4].
Unlocking Practical Applications and Cloud Access
This atomic-scale control yields significant practical benefits, particularly in the acceleration of quantum software and advanced materials research [1][4]. Lous is currently participating in a large-scale Rydberg Atom Quantum Computing project led by Professor Servaas Kokkelmans, which aims to connect a neutral-atom quantum computer to the Quantum Inspire cloud platform [1]. This setup will be utilized to model complex protein interactions, offering potential breakthroughs for medical and pharmaceutical applications [1]. While Lous notes that quantum computers will remain too complex and specialized for home use, the long-term goal of the research team is to integrate the strontium tweezer apparatus into a multi-hardware platform, making neutral-atom quantum computing openly accessible to global researchers and startups via cloud-based systems [1][4].