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:2503.09761 · Physical Review A

Quantum averaging theory for multitimescale driven quantum systems

Kristian D. Barajas, Wesley C. Campbell

Published Jan 6, 2026• 2 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We present a multi-timescale Quantum Averaging Theory (QAT), a unitarity-preserving generalized Floquet framework for analytically modeling periodically and almost-periodically driven quantum systems across multiple timescales. By integrating the Magnus expansion with the method of averaging on multiple scales, QAT captures the effects of both far-detuned and near-resonant interactions on system dynamics. The framework yields an effective Hamiltonian description while retaining fast oscillatory effects within a separate dynamical phase operator, ensuring accuracy across a wide range of driving regimes. We demonstrate the rapid convergence of QAT results toward exact numerical solutions in both detuning regimes for touchstone problems in quantum information science.

DOI
10.1103/jjvf-dw3l

Related papers

Quantum gate dynamics beyond the rotating wave approximation using multitimescale quantum averaging theory

Kristian D. Barajas, Wesley C. Campbell

We present a quantum averaging theory (QAT) for analytically modeling unitary gate dynamics in driven quantum systems beyond the rotating-wave approximation. QAT addresses the simultaneous presence of distinct timescales by generating a rotating frame with a dynamical phase operator that toggles with the high-frequency dynamics and yields an effective Hamiltonian for the slow degree of freedom. By accounting for the fast-varying effects, we demonstrate that high-fidelity two-qubit gates in strongly driven systems are achievable by going beyond the validity of first-order approximations. The QAT results rapidly converge with numerical calculations of a fast-entangling Mølmer-Sørensen trapped-ion-qubit gate in the strong coupling regime, illustrating QAT's ability to simultaneously provide both an intuitive, effective-Hamiltonian model and high accuracy.

arXiv:2503.08886•Physical Review A•Jan 6, 2026•2 citations

The Floquet-Magnus expansion of unbounded operators

Daniel Burgarth, Robin Hillier, Davide Lonigro +1 more

The Floquet-Magnus expansion is a widely used tool to derive effective descriptions of time-periodic quantum systems by approximating their dynamics with a time-independent Hamiltonian. However, its standard formulation is, strictly speaking, restricted to bounded Hamiltonians. In this work, we extend its definition and analysis to a broad class of time-periodic unbounded Hamiltonians. Our approach is based on an a priori distinct nonperturbative framework for the construction of effective Hamiltonians, which we show to reproduce the Floquet-Magnus expansion. A particular strength of our framework is that it allows us to prove that the resulting effective dynamics approximates the original time evolution propagators to arbitrary order in the high-frequency limit without requiring convergence of the Floquet-Magnus expansion, a condition that is already highly restrictive even in the bounded setting. We illustrate the scope of the method on representative models: the quantum Rabi Hamiltonian in the interaction picture, and the periodically driven quantum harmonic oscillator.

math-phCross-listedarXiv:2605.23734•May 25, 2026

A Variational Framework for Time-Dependent Quantum Systems with Applications to Floquet Hamiltonians

Ibsal Assi, Meenu Kumari, J. P. F. LeBlanc

We introduce a variational framework for approximating the time-evolution operator $\hat{U}(t)$ within a physically motivated operator manifold, reformulating quantum dynamics as a tractable problem in operator space using stationary action principle. For periodically driven systems, the resulting approximate evolution operator directly yields an effective Floquet Hamiltonian, offering a non-perturbative alternative to conventional expansion-based methods. The framework is systematically improvable by enlarging the operator pool and naturally incorporates symmetries and physical constraints. When the operator manifold is chosen from the terms of a truncated Magnus expansion, the variational procedure effectively resums the Magnus series within the restricted space, significantly enhancing accuracy. We benchmark the approach on the driven Rabi model, the driven Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model, and the one-dimensional driven Ising chain, yielding effective Floquet Hamiltonians that are systematically more accurate than low-order Magnus expansions, particularly in regimes where the latter converge poorly, and illustrating applicability to systems with exponentially large Hilbert spaces. Although we focus here on Floquet systems, the formalism applies equally to generic time-dependent Hamiltonians, providing a versatile tool for non-equilibrium quantum dynamics.

quant-pharXiv:2607.29418•Aug 3, 2026•0 citations

Floquet analysis of a quantum system with modulated periodic driving

Viktor Novičenko, Egidijus Anisimovas, Gediminas Juzeliūnas

We consider a quantum system periodically driven with a strength which varies slowly on the scale of the driving period. The analysis is based on a general formulation of the Floquet theory relying on the extended Hilbert space. It is shown that the dynamics of the system can be described in terms of a slowly varying effective Floquet Hamiltonian that captures the long-term evolution, as well as rapidly oscillating micromotion operators. We obtain a systematic high-frequency expansion of all these operators. Generalizing the previous studies, the expanded effective Hamiltonian is now time dependent and contains extra terms appearing due to changes in the periodic driving. The same applies to the micromotion operators which exhibit a slow temporal dependence in addition to the rapid oscillations. As an illustration, we consider a quantum-mechanical spin in an oscillating magnetic field with a slowly changing direction. The effective evolution of the spin is then associated with non-Abelian geometric phases reflecting the geometry of the extended Floquet space. The developed formalism is general and also applies to other periodically driven systems, such as shaken optical lattices with a time-dependent shaking strength, a situation relevant to the cold-atom experiments.

arXiv:1608.08420•Physical Review A•Feb 15, 2017•65 citations

Quasi-periodically driven quantum systems

Albert Verdeny, Puig Sadurní, Joaquim, Florian Mintert

Floquet theory provides rigorous foundations for the theory of periodically driven quantum systems. In the case of non-periodic driving, however, the situation is not so well understood. Here, we provide a critical review of the theoretical framework developed for quasi-periodically driven quantum systems. Although the theoretical footing is still under development, we argue that quasi-periodically driven quantum systems can be treated with generalisations of Floquet theory in suitable parameter regimes. Moreover, we provide a generalisation of the Floquet-Magnus expansion and argue that quasi-periodic driving offers a promising route for quantum simulations.

•Jan 1, 2016•44 citations

Quasi-Periodically Driven Quantum Systems

Albert Verdeny, Joaquim Puig, Florian Mintert

Abstract Floquet theory provides rigorous foundations for the theory of periodically driven quantum systems. In the case of non-periodic driving, however, the situation is not so well understood. Here, we provide a critical review of the theoretical framework developed for quasi-periodically driven quantum systems. Although the theoretical footing is still under development, we argue that quasi-periodically driven quantum systems can be treated with generalisations of Floquet theory in suitable parameter regimes. Moreover, we provide a generalisation of the Floquet-Magnus expansion and argue that quasi-periodic driving offers a promising route for quantum simulations.

arXiv:1603.03923•Zeitschrift für Naturforschung A•Jul 21, 2016•58 citations
We present a multi-timescale Quantum Averaging Theory (QAT), a unitarity-preserving generalized Floquet framework for analytically modeling periodically and almost-periodically driven quantum systems across multiple timescales. By integrating the Magnus expansion with the method of averaging on multiple scales, QAT captures the effects of both far-detuned and near-resonant interactions on system dynamics. The framework yields an effective Hamiltonian description while retaining fast oscillatory effects within a separate dynamical phase operator, ensuring accuracy across a wide range of driving regimes. We demonstrate the rapid convergence of QAT results toward exact numerical solutions in both detuning regimes for touchstone problems in quantum information science.
We present a quantum averaging theory (QAT) for analytically modeling unitary gate dynamics in driven quantum systems beyond the rotating-wave approximation. QAT addresses the simultaneous presence of distinct timescales by generating a rotating frame with a dynamical phase operator that toggles with the high-frequency dynamics and yields an effective Hamiltonian for the slow degree of freedom. By accounting for the fast-varying effects, we demonstrate that high-fidelity two-qubit gates in strongly driven systems are achievable by going beyond the validity of first-order approximations. The QAT results rapidly converge with numerical calculations of a fast-entangling Mølmer-Sørensen trapped-ion-qubit gate in the strong coupling regime, illustrating QAT's ability to simultaneously provide both an intuitive, effective-Hamiltonian model and high accuracy.
The Floquet-Magnus expansion is a widely used tool to derive effective descriptions of time-periodic quantum systems by approximating their dynamics with a time-independent Hamiltonian. However, its standard formulation is, strictly speaking, restricted to bounded Hamiltonians. In this work, we extend its definition and analysis to a broad class of time-periodic unbounded Hamiltonians. Our approach is based on an a priori distinct nonperturbative framework for the construction of effective Hamiltonians, which we show to reproduce the Floquet-Magnus expansion. A particular strength of our framework is that it allows us to prove that the resulting effective dynamics approximates the original time evolution propagators to arbitrary order in the high-frequency limit without requiring convergence of the Floquet-Magnus expansion, a condition that is already highly restrictive even in the bounded setting. We illustrate the scope of the method on representative models: the quantum Rabi Hamiltonian in the interaction picture, and the periodically driven quantum harmonic oscillator.
We introduce a variational framework for approximating the time-evolution operator U^(t)\hat{U}(t)U^(t) within a physically motivated operator manifold, reformulating quantum dynamics as a tractable problem in operator space using stationary action principle. For periodically driven systems, the resulting approximate evolution operator directly yields an effective Floquet Hamiltonian, offering a non-perturbative alternative to conventional expansion-based methods. The framework is systematically improvable by enlarging the operator pool and naturally incorporates symmetries and physical constraints. When the operator manifold is chosen from the terms of a truncated Magnus expansion, the variational procedure effectively resums the Magnus series within the restricted space, significantly enhancing accuracy. We benchmark the approach on the driven Rabi model, the driven Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model, and the one-dimensional driven Ising chain, yielding effective Floquet Hamiltonians that are systematically more accurate than low-order Magnus expansions, particularly in regimes where the latter converge poorly, and illustrating applicability to systems with exponentially large Hilbert spaces. Although we focus here on Floquet systems, the formalism applies equally to generic time-dependent Hamiltonians, providing a versatile tool for non-equilibrium quantum dynamics.
We consider a quantum system periodically driven with a strength which varies slowly on the scale of the driving period. The analysis is based on a general formulation of the Floquet theory relying on the extended Hilbert space. It is shown that the dynamics of the system can be described in terms of a slowly varying effective Floquet Hamiltonian that captures the long-term evolution, as well as rapidly oscillating micromotion operators. We obtain a systematic high-frequency expansion of all these operators. Generalizing the previous studies, the expanded effective Hamiltonian is now time dependent and contains extra terms appearing due to changes in the periodic driving. The same applies to the micromotion operators which exhibit a slow temporal dependence in addition to the rapid oscillations. As an illustration, we consider a quantum-mechanical spin in an oscillating magnetic field with a slowly changing direction. The effective evolution of the spin is then associated with non-Abelian geometric phases reflecting the geometry of the extended Floquet space. The developed formalism is general and also applies to other periodically driven systems, such as shaken optical lattices with a time-dependent shaking strength, a situation relevant to the cold-atom experiments.
Floquet theory provides rigorous foundations for the theory of periodically driven quantum systems. In the case of non-periodic driving, however, the situation is not so well understood. Here, we provide a critical review of the theoretical framework developed for quasi-periodically driven quantum systems. Although the theoretical footing is still under development, we argue that quasi-periodically driven quantum systems can be treated with generalisations of Floquet theory in suitable parameter regimes. Moreover, we provide a generalisation of the Floquet-Magnus expansion and argue that quasi-periodic driving offers a promising route for quantum simulations.
Abstract Floquet theory provides rigorous foundations for the theory of periodically driven quantum systems. In the case of non-periodic driving, however, the situation is not so well understood. Here, we provide a critical review of the theoretical framework developed for quasi-periodically driven quantum systems. Although the theoretical footing is still under development, we argue that quasi-periodically driven quantum systems can be treated with generalisations of Floquet theory in suitable parameter regimes. Moreover, we provide a generalisation of the Floquet-Magnus expansion and argue that quasi-periodic driving offers a promising route for quantum simulations.