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arXiv:1806.07793 · Physical Review A

Quantum control with measurements and quantum Zeno dynamics

Jens Jakob Sørensen, Mogens Dalgaard, Alexander Holm Kiilerich, Klaus Mølmer, Jacob Friis Sherson

Published Dec 14, 2018• 20 citations
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Abstract

We introduce an efficient iterative method to prepare a target state in Hilbert spaces with high dimensionality using a combination of unitary evolution, measurements, and quantum Zeno dynamics. The latter confines the evolution within Zeno subspaces of decreasing size. This gives an exponential speedup relative to the case of states evolving in the full Hilbert space between projective measurements. We demonstrate our approach on the control problem of rapidly transferring a superfluid into the Mott insulator in the Bose-Hubbard model. We discuss the general applicability of the method by preparing arbitrary superpositions with random Hamiltonians.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.98.062317

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We introduce an efficient iterative method to prepare a target state in Hilbert spaces with high dimensionality using a combination of unitary evolution, measurements, and quantum Zeno dynamics. The latter confines the evolution within Zeno subspaces of decreasing size. This gives an exponential speedup relative to the case of states evolving in the full Hilbert space between projective measurements. We demonstrate our approach on the control problem of rapidly transferring a superfluid into the Mott insulator in the Bose-Hubbard model. We discuss the general applicability of the method by preparing arbitrary superpositions with random Hamiltonians.
We develop a scheme to prepare a desired state or subspace in high-dimensional Hilbert-spaces using repeated applications of a single static projection operator onto the desired target and fixed unitary dynamics. Benchmarks against other control schemes, performed on generic Hamiltonians and on Bose--Hubbard systems, establish the competitiveness of the method. As a concrete application of the control of mesoscopic atomic samples in optical lattices we demonstrate the near deterministic preparation of Schrödinger cat states of all atoms residing on either the odd or the even sites.
The evolution of a quantum system undergoing very frequent measurements takes place in a subspace of the total Hilbert space (quantum Zeno effect). The dynamical properties A quantum system, prepared in a state that does not belong to an eigenvalue of its total Hamiltonian, starts to evolve quadratically in time [1, 2]. This behavior leads to the so-called quantum Zeno phenomenon: by performing frequent measurements on the system, in order to check whether it is still in its initial state, one can “slow
Abstract. If frequent measurements ascertain whether a quantum system is still in its initial state, transitions to other states are hindered and the quantum Zeno effect takes place. However, in its broader formulation, the quantum Zeno effect does not necessarily freeze everything. On the contrary, for frequent projections onto a multidimensional subspace, the system can evolve away from its initial state, although it remains in the subspace defined by the measurement. The continuing time evolution within the projected “quantum Zeno subspace ” is called “quantum Zeno dynamics: ” for instance, if the measurements ascertain whether a quantum particle is in a given spatial region, the evolution is unitary and the generator of the Zeno dynamics is the Hamiltonian with hard-wall (Dirichlet) boundary conditions. We discuss the physical and mathematical aspects of this evolution, highlighting the open mathematical problems. We then analyze some alternative strategies to obtain a Zeno dynamics and show that they are physically equivalent.
If frequent measurements ascertain whether a quantum system is still in its initial state, transitions to other states are hindered and the quantum Zeno effect takes place. However, in its broader formulation, the quantum Zeno effect does not necessarily freeze everything. On the contrary, for frequent projections onto a multidimensional subspace, the system can evolve away from its initial state, although it remains in the subspace defined by the measurement. The continuing time evolution within the projected "quantum Zeno subspace" is called "quantum Zeno dynamics:" for instance, if the measurements ascertain whether a quantum particle is in a given spatial region, the evolution is unitary and the generator of the Zeno dynamics is the Hamiltonian with hard-wall (Dirichlet) boundary conditions. We discuss the physical and mathematical aspects of this evolution, highlighting the open mathematical problems. We then analyze some alternative strategies to obtain a Zeno dynamics and show that they are physically equivalent.
It is generally impossible to probe a quantum system without disturbing it. However, it is possible to exploit the back action of quantum measurements and strong couplings to tailor and protect the coherent evolution of a quantum system. This is a profound and counterintuitive phenomenon known as quantum Zeno dynamics. Here we demonstrate quantum Zeno dynamics with a rubidium Bose–Einstein condensate in a five-level Hilbert space. We harness measurements and strong couplings to dynamically disconnect different groups of quantum states and constrain the atoms to coherently evolve inside a two-level subregion. In parallel to the foundational importance due to the realization of a dynamical superselection rule and the theory of quantum measurements, this is an important step forward in protecting and controlling quantum dynamics and, broadly speaking, quantum information processing. While a quantum system is always disturbed by any observation, one can exploit the back action of measurements and strong couplings to tailor the system evolution via quantum Zeno dynamics. Schäfer et al. demonstrate quantum Zeno dynamics in a five-level Hilbert space using a 87Rb Bose–Einstein condensate.