Advances in laser technology have driven discoveries in atomic, molecular,
and optical (AMO) physics and emerging applications, from quantum computers
with cold atoms or ions, to quantum networks with solid-state color centers.
This progress is motivating the development of a new generation of
"programmable optical control" systems, characterized by criteria (C1) visible
(VIS) and near-infrared (IR) wavelength operation, (C2) large channel counts
extensible beyond 1000s of individually addressable atoms, (C3) high intensity
modulation extinction and (C4) repeatability compatible with low gate errors,
and (C5) fast switching times. Here, we address these challenges by introducing
an atom control architecture based on VIS-IR photonic integrated circuit (PIC)
technology. Based on a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)
fabrication process, this Atom-control PIC (APIC) technology meets the system
requirements (C1)-(C5). As a proof of concept, we demonstrate a 16-channel
silicon nitride based APIC with (5.8±0.4) ns response times and -30 dB
extinction ratio at a wavelength of 780 nm. This work demonstrates the
suitability of PIC technology for quantum control, opening a path towards
scalable quantum information processing based on optically-programmable atomic
systems