Abstract: A controller of an atomic system controls operation of potential sources to cause potential generating signals to be provided. Application of the potential generating signals to respective potential generating elements causes performance of a split operation causing confinement of a first subset of atomic objects of an object crystal in a first potential well and a second subset of atomic objects of the object crystal in a second potential well. The first subset consists of one or more atomic objects. The object crystal includes atomic objects of at least two species. The controller controls operation of manipulation sources to cause manipulation signals to be incident on the first subset. The controller receives a sensor signal generated by a photodetector configured to capture fluorescence signals generated by the first subset. The controller processes the sensor signal to determine a respective species of at least one atomic object of the first subset.