Improving quantum computation with neutral cesium: Readout and cooling on a quadrupole line, conditions for double magic traps and a novel dissipative entanglement scheme

Neutral atoms harbor great potential for scalable and efficient quantum computation. The AQuA experiment is an attempt to capitalize on that potential and create a quantum computer out of an array of 49 qubits composed of neutral cesium atoms. This thesis covers various theoretical and experimental attempts to improve the capabilities of quantum computation with neutral cesium in general and the AQuA experiment in particular. First we discuss the theory of the 5d5/2 line in cesium and its properties relevant for cooling and readout of qubits. Following this we present our technical and experimental progress in utilizing the 5d 5/2 line. After this we shift to discussing how to improve decoherence times of neutral cesium atoms by finding magic trap conditions and in particular we show that a bichromatic trap can be magic in both magnetic and A.C. electric field simultaneously. Finally, we present a novel scheme for using Rydberg blockade and spontaneous emission from a Rydberg state to achieve entanglement of two or more atoms.