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arXiv:1605.09688 · Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical

The reachable set of single-mode quadratic Hamiltonians

Uther Shackerley-Bennett, Alexander Pitchford, Marco G. Genoni, Alessio Serafini, Daniel Klaus Burgarth

Published Feb 22, 2017• 11 citations

Abstract

Abstract Open-loop controllability in quantum mechanics refers to finding conditions on time-varying Hamiltonians such that a full group of unitary transformations can be enacted with them. For compact groups controllability is well understood and is dealt with using the Lie algebra rank criterion. Gaussian systems, however, evolve under Hamiltonians generating the non-compact symplectic group, rendering the rank criterion necessary but no longer sufficient. In this setting it is possible to satisfy the rank criterion without the ability to enact all symplectic transformations. We refer to such systems as ‘unstable’ and explore the set of symplectic transformations that remain reachable. We provide a partial analytical characterisation for the reachable set of a single-mode unstable system. From this it is proven that no orthogonal-symplectic operations (‘energy-preserving’ or ‘passive’ in the literature) may be reached with such controls. We then apply numerical optimal control algorithms to demonstrate a complete characterisation of the set in specific cases. These results suggest approaches to the long-standing open problem of controllability in n modes.

DOI: 10.1088/1751-8121/aa6243

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We develop some general results on the properties of the reachable sets for right invariant bilinear systems with state varying on compact Lie groups. The main results consist of a characterization of the set of states reachable in arbitrary time from the identity of the group. This, under suitable assumptions, is proved to be a Lie subgroup of the underlying Lie group. We apply these results to the analysis of the controllability of particles with spin. For these systems we also obtain estimates of the time after which every state is reachable from the identity. The results are motivated by the problem of controlling a two-level quantum system in implementations of quantum computers.

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In this paper, we develop some general results on the properties of the reachable sets for right invariant bilinear systems with state varying on compact Lie groups. The main results consist of a characterization of the set of states reachable in arbitrary time from the identity of the group. This, under suitable assumptions, is proved to be a Lie subgroup of the underlying Lie group. We apply these results to the analysis of the controllability of particles with spin. For these systems we also obtain estimates of the time after which every state is reachable from the identity. The results are motivated by the problem of controlling a two-level quantum system in implementations of quantum computers.

We address the question of which quantum states can be inter-converted under the action of a time-dependent Hamiltonian. In particular, we consider the problem as applied to mixed states, and investigate the difference between pure- and mixed-state controllabilities introduced in previous work. We provide a complete characterization of the eigenvalue spectrum for which the state is controllable under the action of the symplectic group. We also address the problem of which states can be prepared if the dynamical Lie group is not sufficiently large to allow the system to be controllable.

In this work, we study operator controllability of finite-dimensional closed quantum systems driven by a single coherent control. Two general Lie-algebraic results on controllability of such systems are proved. The first gives sufficient conditions under which controllability of the system is preserved when controlled energy-level shifts are added. The second gives a sufficient basis-element condition under which the dynamical Lie algebra contains

\mathfrak{su}(N)

and the system is therefore operator controllable. These results, together with known controllability conditions, are applied to obtain a complete classification of operator controllability of all three-level quantum systems in terms of their free and interaction Hamiltonian matrix elements. This classification covers all combinations of energy-level and level-spacing degeneracies, two or three allowed transitions, as well as the presence or absence of controlled energy-level shifts, and gives necessary and sufficient conditions for operator controllability in each case.