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:2408.08383 · Physical Review Letters

Krylov Subspace Methods for Quantum Dynamics with Time-Dependent Generators

Kazutaka Takahashi, Adolfo del Campo

Published Jan 22, 2025• 13 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Krylov subspace methods in quantum dynamics identify the minimal subspace in which a process unfolds. To date, their use is restricted to time evolutions governed by time-independent generators. We introduce a generalization valid for driven quantum systems governed by a time-dependent Hamiltonian that maps the evolution to a diffusion problem in a one-dimensional lattice with nearest-neighbor hopping probabilities that are inhomogeneous and time dependent. This representation is used to establish a novel class of fundamental limits to the quantum speed of evolution and operator growth. We also discuss generalizations of the algorithm, adapted to discretized time evolutions and periodic Hamiltonians, with applications to many-body systems.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.134.030401

Related papers

Krylov Dynamics and Operator Growth in Time-Dependent Systems via Lie Algebras

András Grabarits, E. Medina-Guerra, Adolfo del Campo

We study quantum dynamics generated by time-dependent Hamiltonians in Krylov space, the minimal subspace in which the evolution takes place. We establish a direct link between dynamics in the time-dependent Krylov subspace and the underlying Lie-algebraic structure of the Hamiltonian. We develop a general framework in which the dynamics in the time-dependent Krylov subspace is generated by ladder operators of the associated Lie algebra. In particular, we identify the minimal conditions under which the exact time-dependent Krylov dynamics is naturally determined by the interaction-picture Hamiltonian and governed by an embedded $\mathfrak{sl}(2,\mathbb{C})$ subalgebra. We further show that an exact single-exponential representation of the time-evolution operator gives rise to a distinct time-independent Krylov dynamics in a unitarily related basis, from which the exact time-dependent Krylov dynamics can nevertheless be recovered. We also extend the framework to the oscillator algebra as the simplest extension of the nilpotent Heisenberg--Weyl algebra, and provide further examples, including the translated and dilated harmonic oscillator, systems governed by closed Virasoro subalgebras, a spin in a rotating magnetic field, and higher-dimensional generalizations for multi-level systems. In addition, we introduce a new quantum speed limit to the complexity growth rate generated by a time-dependent generator and show that, for evolutions governed by a Lie algebra, it retains the same functional form as in the time-independent case. Remarkably, saturation of this bound is strongly affected by temporal driving and persists only when the Hamiltonian commutes with itself at different times. These results establish a unified framework for characterizing operator growth and Krylov complexity in time-dependent quantum systems with underlying Lie-algebraic structures.

quant-pharXiv:2605.05290•May 8, 2026•0 citations

On Information Propagation in Krylov Subspaces

Pablo Martinez-Azcona, Maximilian Meyer-Moelleringhof, Adolfo del Campo +1 more

Krylov subspace methods provide an efficient tool for modeling any quantum initial value problem as a one dimensional chain. A time ordered path formulation, in which the dynamical generator successively splits probability between paths, yields a speed limit within such dynamical subspaces. For power law growing Lanczos coefficients $b_n \sim n^δ$ we find super ballistic lightcones, with an exponentially spreading lightcone for maximal growth $δ= 1$. Causality in the Krylov chain constrains the Lanczos coefficients to grow at most linearly. We illustrate the validity of the above in the $SL(2, R)$ and Heisenberg Weyl algebras, and in a many body skew field Ising model. Moreover, we extend the above bound to the family of $Q$ complexities. Lastly, mapping to a spin chain gives a Lieb Robinson bound analogue and opens the problem to standard condensed matter methods.

quant-pharXiv:2610.03883•Oct 6, 2026•0 citations

Krylov complexity under Hamiltonian deformations and Toda flows

Kazutaka Takahashi, Pratik Nandy, Adolfo del Campo

The quantum dynamics of a complex system can be efficiently described in Krylov space, the minimal subspace in which the dynamics unfolds. We apply the Krylov subspace method for Hamiltonian deformations, which provides a systematic way of constructing solvable models from known instances. In doing so, we relate the evolution of deformed and undeformed theories and investigate their complexity. For a certain class of deformations, the resulting Krylov subspace is unchanged, and we observe time evolutions with a reorganized basis. The tridiagonal form of the generator in the Krylov space is maintained, and we obtain generalized Toda equations as a function of the deformation parameters. The imaginary-time-like evolutions can be described by real-time unitary ones. As possible applications, we discuss coherent Gibbs states for thermodynamic systems, for which we analyze the survival probability, spread complexity, Krylov entropy, and associated time-averaged quantities. We further discuss the statistical properties of random matrices and supersymmetric systems for quadratic deformations.

arXiv:2510.19436•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Mar 31, 2026•0 citations

Krylov construction and complexity for driven quantum systems

Amin A. Nizami, Ankit W. Shrestha

Krylov complexity is an important dynamical quantity with relevance to the study of operator growth and quantum chaos and has recently been much studied for various time-independent systems. We initiate the study of K complexity in time-dependent (driven) quantum systems. For periodic time-dependent (Floquet) systems, we develop a natural method for doing the Krylov construction and then define (state and operator) K complexity for such systems. Focusing on kicked systems, in particular the quantum kicked rotor on a torus, we provide a detailed numerical study of the time dependence of Arnoldi coefficients as well as of the K complexity with the system coupling constant interpolating between the weak and strong coupling regimes. We also study the growth of the Krylov subspace dimension as a function of the system coupling constant.

arXiv:2305.00256•Physical review. E•Nov 28, 2023•35 citations

Exact and Tunable Quantum Krylov Subspaces via Unitary Decomposition

Ayush Asthana

Quantum Krylov subspace methods can extract ground and excited states by diagonalizing the Hamiltonian in a compact variational space. In practice, these spaces are almost always generated by real or imaginary time evolution, forcing a timestep trade-off between dynamical accuracy and basis collapse and often producing ill-conditioned overlap matrices that stall convergence. Here we introduce Quantum Krylov using Unitary Decomposition (QKUD), a time-evolution-free construction that maps Hamiltonian powers to implementable unitaries via the Hermitian transform $\sin(εH)/ε$. QKUD reduces to the exact Hamiltonian-power Krylov recursion as $ε\rightarrow0$, while finite $ε$ provides a controllable deformation that tunes subspace geometry and improves conditioning. Across molecular active-space benchmarks and a frustrated 2D J1-J2 Heisenberg model, QKUD reproduces exact-Krylov convergence in well-conditioned regimes and systematically restores variational improvement when both exact Krylov and time-evolution Krylov stagnate. These results identify overlap conditioning, instead of time-evolution fidelity, is the key resource for robust quantum Krylov simulation and provide a resilient way forward for accurate quantum simulation of challenging quantum many-body problems.

quant-pharXiv:2512.11788•Dec 15, 2025•0 citations

Krylov Complexity for Time-Dependent Hamiltonians

Amin Faraji Astaneh, Parsa Kafashi

We investigate Krylov spread complexity for states evolving under time-dependent Hamiltonians. For periodically driven systems, we formulate the problem within Floquet theory and show how the Magnus expansion provides a systematic approximation when the Floquet Hamiltonian is not available in closed form. We then extend this framework beyond periodic driving and demonstrate that, in addition to the globally truncated Magnus expansion, a piecewise Magnus expansion provides a reliable method when the global expansion loses convergence or accuracy. Our results provide practical tools for analyzing complexity growth in a broad class of time-dependent quantum systems.

hep-thCross-listedarXiv:2607.10454•Jul 14, 2026•0 citations
Krylov subspace methods in quantum dynamics identify the minimal subspace in which a process unfolds. To date, their use is restricted to time evolutions governed by time-independent generators. We introduce a generalization valid for driven quantum systems governed by a time-dependent Hamiltonian that maps the evolution to a diffusion problem in a one-dimensional lattice with nearest-neighbor hopping probabilities that are inhomogeneous and time dependent. This representation is used to establish a novel class of fundamental limits to the quantum speed of evolution and operator growth. We also discuss generalizations of the algorithm, adapted to discretized time evolutions and periodic Hamiltonians, with applications to many-body systems.
We study quantum dynamics generated by time-dependent Hamiltonians in Krylov space, the minimal subspace in which the evolution takes place. We establish a direct link between dynamics in the time-dependent Krylov subspace and the underlying Lie-algebraic structure of the Hamiltonian. We develop a general framework in which the dynamics in the time-dependent Krylov subspace is generated by ladder operators of the associated Lie algebra. In particular, we identify the minimal conditions under which the exact time-dependent Krylov dynamics is naturally determined by the interaction-picture Hamiltonian and governed by an embedded sl(2,C)\mathfrak{sl}(2,\mathbb{C})sl(2,C) subalgebra. We further show that an exact single-exponential representation of the time-evolution operator gives rise to a distinct time-independent Krylov dynamics in a unitarily related basis, from which the exact time-dependent Krylov dynamics can nevertheless be recovered. We also extend the framework to the oscillator algebra as the simplest extension of the nilpotent Heisenberg--Weyl algebra, and provide further examples, including the translated and dilated harmonic oscillator, systems governed by closed Virasoro subalgebras, a spin in a rotating magnetic field, and higher-dimensional generalizations for multi-level systems. In addition, we introduce a new quantum speed limit to the complexity growth rate generated by a time-dependent generator and show that, for evolutions governed by a Lie algebra, it retains the same functional form as in the time-independent case. Remarkably, saturation of this bound is strongly affected by temporal driving and persists only when the Hamiltonian commutes with itself at different times. These results establish a unified framework for characterizing operator growth and Krylov complexity in time-dependent quantum systems with underlying Lie-algebraic structures.
Krylov subspace methods provide an efficient tool for modeling any quantum initial value problem as a one dimensional chain. A time ordered path formulation, in which the dynamical generator successively splits probability between paths, yields a speed limit within such dynamical subspaces. For power law growing Lanczos coefficients bn∼nδb_n \sim n^δbn​∼nδ we find super ballistic lightcones, with an exponentially spreading lightcone for maximal growth δ=1δ= 1δ=1. Causality in the Krylov chain constrains the Lanczos coefficients to grow at most linearly. We illustrate the validity of the above in the SL(2,R)SL(2, R)SL(2,R) and Heisenberg Weyl algebras, and in a many body skew field Ising model. Moreover, we extend the above bound to the family of QQQ complexities. Lastly, mapping to a spin chain gives a Lieb Robinson bound analogue and opens the problem to standard condensed matter methods.
The quantum dynamics of a complex system can be efficiently described in Krylov space, the minimal subspace in which the dynamics unfolds. We apply the Krylov subspace method for Hamiltonian deformations, which provides a systematic way of constructing solvable models from known instances. In doing so, we relate the evolution of deformed and undeformed theories and investigate their complexity. For a certain class of deformations, the resulting Krylov subspace is unchanged, and we observe time evolutions with a reorganized basis. The tridiagonal form of the generator in the Krylov space is maintained, and we obtain generalized Toda equations as a function of the deformation parameters. The imaginary-time-like evolutions can be described by real-time unitary ones. As possible applications, we discuss coherent Gibbs states for thermodynamic systems, for which we analyze the survival probability, spread complexity, Krylov entropy, and associated time-averaged quantities. We further discuss the statistical properties of random matrices and supersymmetric systems for quadratic deformations.
Krylov complexity is an important dynamical quantity with relevance to the study of operator growth and quantum chaos and has recently been much studied for various time-independent systems. We initiate the study of K complexity in time-dependent (driven) quantum systems. For periodic time-dependent (Floquet) systems, we develop a natural method for doing the Krylov construction and then define (state and operator) K complexity for such systems. Focusing on kicked systems, in particular the quantum kicked rotor on a torus, we provide a detailed numerical study of the time dependence of Arnoldi coefficients as well as of the K complexity with the system coupling constant interpolating between the weak and strong coupling regimes. We also study the growth of the Krylov subspace dimension as a function of the system coupling constant.
Quantum Krylov subspace methods can extract ground and excited states by diagonalizing the Hamiltonian in a compact variational space. In practice, these spaces are almost always generated by real or imaginary time evolution, forcing a timestep trade-off between dynamical accuracy and basis collapse and often producing ill-conditioned overlap matrices that stall convergence. Here we introduce Quantum Krylov using Unitary Decomposition (QKUD), a time-evolution-free construction that maps Hamiltonian powers to implementable unitaries via the Hermitian transform sin⁡(εH)/ε\sin(εH)/εsin(εH)/ε. QKUD reduces to the exact Hamiltonian-power Krylov recursion as ε→0ε\rightarrow0ε→0, while finite εεε provides a controllable deformation that tunes subspace geometry and improves conditioning. Across molecular active-space benchmarks and a frustrated 2D J1-J2 Heisenberg model, QKUD reproduces exact-Krylov convergence in well-conditioned regimes and systematically restores variational improvement when both exact Krylov and time-evolution Krylov stagnate. These results identify overlap conditioning, instead of time-evolution fidelity, is the key resource for robust quantum Krylov simulation and provide a resilient way forward for accurate quantum simulation of challenging quantum many-body problems.
We investigate Krylov spread complexity for states evolving under time-dependent Hamiltonians. For periodically driven systems, we formulate the problem within Floquet theory and show how the Magnus expansion provides a systematic approximation when the Floquet Hamiltonian is not available in closed form. We then extend this framework beyond periodic driving and demonstrate that, in addition to the globally truncated Magnus expansion, a piecewise Magnus expansion provides a reliable method when the global expansion loses convergence or accuracy. Our results provide practical tools for analyzing complexity growth in a broad class of time-dependent quantum systems.