We have developed a technique to control the placement of atoms in an optical lattice by using a superlattice comprising two separately manipulated, periodic optical potentials with commensurate periods. We demonstrate selective loading of Bose-condensed ${}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms into every third site of a one-dimensional optical lattice. Our technique provides atoms with wide separation yet tight confinement, useful properties for neutral-atom implementations of quantum computing. Interference of atoms released from the optical lattice and optical Bragg reflection from the atoms reveal the tight confinement and wide separation provided by the patterned filling.

• Received 19 September 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.67.051603