Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1106.0177 · Physical Review A

Quantum optimal control theory in the linear response formalism

Alberto Castro, I. V. Tokatly

Published Sep 13, 2011• 14 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Quantum optimal control theory (QOCT) aims at finding an external field that drives a quantum system in such a way that optimally achieves some predefined target. In practice, this normally means optimizing the value of some observable, a so-called merit function. In consequence, a key part of the theory is a set of equations, which provides the gradient of the merit function with respect to parameters that control the shape of the driving field. We show that these equations can be straightforwardly derived using the standard linear response theory, only requiring a minor generalization: the unperturbed Hamiltonian is allowed to be time dependent. As a result, the aforementioned gradients are identified with certain response functions. This identification leads to a natural reformulation of QOCT in terms of the Keldysh contour formalism of the quantum many-body theory. In particular, the gradients of the merit function can be calculated using the diagrammatic technique for nonequilibrium Green's functions, which should be helpful in the application of QOCT to computationally difficult many-electron problems.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.84.033410

Related papers

Quantum optimal control theory

Jan Werschnik, Eberhard K. U. Gross

The control of quantum dynamics via specially tailored laser pulses is a long-standing goal in physics and chemistry. Partly, this dream has come true, as sophisticated pulse-shaping experiments allow us to coherently control product ratios of chemical reactions. The theoretical design of the laser pulse to transfer an initial state to a given final state can be achieved with the help of quantum optimal control theory (QOCT). This tutorial provides an introduction to QOCT. It shows how the control equations defining such an optimal pulse follow from the variation of a properly defined functional. We explain the most successful schemes to solve these control equations and show how to incorporate additional constraints in the pulse design. The algorithms are then applied to simple quantum systems and the obtained pulses are analysed. Besides the traditional final-time control methods, the tutorial also presents an algorithm and an example to handle time-dependent control targets.

arXiv:0707.1883•Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Sep 4, 2007•470 citations

Revisiting quantum optimal control theory: New insights for the canonical solutions

Katherine Castro, Ignacio R. Solá, Juan J. Omiste

We present a novel derivation of the Quantum Optimal Control Theory (QOCT). First, we identify the QOCT equations as the Euler-Lagrange equations of the functional associated to the control scheme considering a general window function that accounts for the measurement process. In this framework, we prove that the extremal functions found by Peirce et al. [Phys. Rev. A 37, 4950 (1988)], can be obtained using the well-established theory of variations with appropriately chosen boundary conditions. Second, we derive the QOCT canonical equations to maximize an observable at a given time T by taking the limit of an infinite narrow window function, that is, a delta distribution. We show that the costate is discontinuous and vanishes after the measurement time. Finally, we illustrate the convergence to the limiting case with numerical computations on a spin-chain Heisenberg model.

arXiv:2307.16724•Journal of Mathematical Physics•Dec 1, 2025•2 citations

Optimal control theory for quantum electrodynamics: an initial state problem

Alberto Castro, Heiko Appel, Ángel Rubio

In conventional quantum optimal control theory, the parameters that determine an external field are optimised to maximise some predefined function of the trajectory, or of the final state, of a matter system. The situation changes in the case of quantum electrodynamics, where the degrees of freedom of the radiation field are now part of the system. In consequence, instead of optimising an external field, the optimal control question turns into a optimisation problem for the many-body initial state of the combined matter-photon system. In the present work, we develop such an optimal control theory for quantum electrodynamics. We derive the equation that provides the gradient of the target function, which is often the occupation of some given state or subspace, with respect to the control variables that define the initial state. We choose the well-known Dicke model to study the possibilities of this technique. In the weak coupling regime, we find that Dicke states are the optimal matter states to reach Fock number states of the cavity mode with large fidelity, and vice versa, that Fock number states of the photon modes are the optimal states to reach the Dicke states. This picture does not prevail in the strong coupling regime. We have also considered the extended case with more than one mode. In this case, we find that increasing the number of two-level systems allows reaching a larger occupation of entangled photon targets.

•Oct 1, 2019•6 citations

Control of open quantum systems: Manipulation of a qubit coupled to a thermal bath by an external driving field

Haoran Sun, Michael Galperin

Fast and reliable manipulation with qubits is fundamental for any quantum technology. The implementation of these manipulations in physical systems is the focus of studies involving optimal control theory. Realistic physical devices are open quantum systems. So far, studies in optimal control theory have primarily utilized the Redfield/Lindblad quantum master equation to simulate the dynamics of such systems. However, this Markov description is not always sufficient. Here, we present a study of qubit control utilizing the nonequilibrium Green's function method. We compare the traditional master equation with more general Green's function results and demonstrate that even in the parameter regime suitable for the application of the Redfield/Lindblad approach, the two methods yield drastically different results when addressing evolution involving mixed states. In particular, we find that, in addition to predicting different optimal driving profiles, a more accurate description of system evolution enables the system to reach the desired final state much more quickly. We argue that the primary reason for this is the significance of the non-Markov description of driven system dynamics due to the effect of time-dependent driving on dissipation.

arXiv:2412.12624•Dec 17, 2024•0 citations

Optimal Quantum Control in Dissipative Environments: General Formalism and Perturbative Limits

Seogjoo Jang, Jianshu Cao

Optimal quantum control in dissipative environments is formulated combining the optimal control theory from the Wilson group with the projection operator technique. In the weak response limit, a set of formally exact equations defines the optimal weak field for arbitrary target states and arbitrary system-bath interactions. Perturbative approximations are then made to derive general equations for weakly dissipative non-Markovian systems, which are amenable to analytical and/or numerical solutions. Potential applications of these results are discussed.

ACS symposium series•Jun 21, 2002•0 citations

Using Optimal Control Theory to Improve Adiabatic Quantum Trajectories.

Constantin Brif

Motivation• In adiabatic quantum computation (AQC), the system is kept in the instantaneous ground state |φ 0 (t) of a slowly varying Hamiltonian H(t), which provides inherent protection against dephasing and relaxation in the energy eigenstate basis.• However, this protection does not guarantee full fault tolerance, since there still exist some types of noise, which can drive undesirable transitions out of the ground state.• Therefore, it would be desirable to try decreasing the accumulation of errors by performing a computation in a shorter time.However, how to reconcile faster evolution with the requirement of adiabaticity?• Our approach: (1) consider Hamiltonians containing multiple control functions and (2) use quantum optimal control theory (QOCT) to find control sets which achieve the target state with a high fidelity while simultaneously maximizing the degree of adiabaticity.• Exploring properties of optimal adiabatic trajectories in few-qubit model systems elucidates the dynamic mechanisms which suppress unwanted excitations from the ground state.

•Feb 28, 2019•0 citations
Quantum optimal control theory (QOCT) aims at finding an external field that drives a quantum system in such a way that optimally achieves some predefined target. In practice, this normally means optimizing the value of some observable, a so-called merit function. In consequence, a key part of the theory is a set of equations, which provides the gradient of the merit function with respect to parameters that control the shape of the driving field. We show that these equations can be straightforwardly derived using the standard linear response theory, only requiring a minor generalization: the unperturbed Hamiltonian is allowed to be time dependent. As a result, the aforementioned gradients are identified with certain response functions. This identification leads to a natural reformulation of QOCT in terms of the Keldysh contour formalism of the quantum many-body theory. In particular, the gradients of the merit function can be calculated using the diagrammatic technique for nonequilibrium Green's functions, which should be helpful in the application of QOCT to computationally difficult many-electron problems.
The control of quantum dynamics via specially tailored laser pulses is a long-standing goal in physics and chemistry. Partly, this dream has come true, as sophisticated pulse-shaping experiments allow us to coherently control product ratios of chemical reactions. The theoretical design of the laser pulse to transfer an initial state to a given final state can be achieved with the help of quantum optimal control theory (QOCT). This tutorial provides an introduction to QOCT. It shows how the control equations defining such an optimal pulse follow from the variation of a properly defined functional. We explain the most successful schemes to solve these control equations and show how to incorporate additional constraints in the pulse design. The algorithms are then applied to simple quantum systems and the obtained pulses are analysed. Besides the traditional final-time control methods, the tutorial also presents an algorithm and an example to handle time-dependent control targets.
We present a novel derivation of the Quantum Optimal Control Theory (QOCT). First, we identify the QOCT equations as the Euler-Lagrange equations of the functional associated to the control scheme considering a general window function that accounts for the measurement process. In this framework, we prove that the extremal functions found by Peirce et al. [Phys. Rev. A 37, 4950 (1988)], can be obtained using the well-established theory of variations with appropriately chosen boundary conditions. Second, we derive the QOCT canonical equations to maximize an observable at a given time T by taking the limit of an infinite narrow window function, that is, a delta distribution. We show that the costate is discontinuous and vanishes after the measurement time. Finally, we illustrate the convergence to the limiting case with numerical computations on a spin-chain Heisenberg model.
In conventional quantum optimal control theory, the parameters that determine an external field are optimised to maximise some predefined function of the trajectory, or of the final state, of a matter system. The situation changes in the case of quantum electrodynamics, where the degrees of freedom of the radiation field are now part of the system. In consequence, instead of optimising an external field, the optimal control question turns into a optimisation problem for the many-body initial state of the combined matter-photon system. In the present work, we develop such an optimal control theory for quantum electrodynamics. We derive the equation that provides the gradient of the target function, which is often the occupation of some given state or subspace, with respect to the control variables that define the initial state. We choose the well-known Dicke model to study the possibilities of this technique. In the weak coupling regime, we find that Dicke states are the optimal matter states to reach Fock number states of the cavity mode with large fidelity, and vice versa, that Fock number states of the photon modes are the optimal states to reach the Dicke states. This picture does not prevail in the strong coupling regime. We have also considered the extended case with more than one mode. In this case, we find that increasing the number of two-level systems allows reaching a larger occupation of entangled photon targets.
Fast and reliable manipulation with qubits is fundamental for any quantum technology. The implementation of these manipulations in physical systems is the focus of studies involving optimal control theory. Realistic physical devices are open quantum systems. So far, studies in optimal control theory have primarily utilized the Redfield/Lindblad quantum master equation to simulate the dynamics of such systems. However, this Markov description is not always sufficient. Here, we present a study of qubit control utilizing the nonequilibrium Green's function method. We compare the traditional master equation with more general Green's function results and demonstrate that even in the parameter regime suitable for the application of the Redfield/Lindblad approach, the two methods yield drastically different results when addressing evolution involving mixed states. In particular, we find that, in addition to predicting different optimal driving profiles, a more accurate description of system evolution enables the system to reach the desired final state much more quickly. We argue that the primary reason for this is the significance of the non-Markov description of driven system dynamics due to the effect of time-dependent driving on dissipation.
Optimal quantum control in dissipative environments is formulated combining the optimal control theory from the Wilson group with the projection operator technique. In the weak response limit, a set of formally exact equations defines the optimal weak field for arbitrary target states and arbitrary system-bath interactions. Perturbative approximations are then made to derive general equations for weakly dissipative non-Markovian systems, which are amenable to analytical and/or numerical solutions. Potential applications of these results are discussed.
Motivation• In adiabatic quantum computation (AQC), the system is kept in the instantaneous ground state |φ 0 (t) of a slowly varying Hamiltonian H(t), which provides inherent protection against dephasing and relaxation in the energy eigenstate basis.• However, this protection does not guarantee full fault tolerance, since there still exist some types of noise, which can drive undesirable transitions out of the ground state.• Therefore, it would be desirable to try decreasing the accumulation of errors by performing a computation in a shorter time.However, how to reconcile faster evolution with the requirement of adiabaticity?• Our approach: (1) consider Hamiltonians containing multiple control functions and (2) use quantum optimal control theory (QOCT) to find control sets which achieve the target state with a high fidelity while simultaneously maximizing the degree of adiabaticity.• Exploring properties of optimal adiabatic trajectories in few-qubit model systems elucidates the dynamic mechanisms which suppress unwanted excitations from the ground state.