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

IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control

Controllability Aspects of Quantum Dynamics: A Unified Approach for Closed and Open Systems

I. Kurniawan, Gunther Dirr, Uwe Helmke B

Published Jul 19, 2012• 32 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Knowledge about to what extent quantum dynamical systems can be steered by coherent controls is indispensable for future developments in quantum technology. The purpose of this paper is to analyze such controllability aspects for finite dimensional bilinear quantum control systems. We use a unified approach based on Lie-algebraic methods from nonlinear control theory to revisit known and to establish new results for closed and open quantum systems. In particular, we provide a simplified characterization of different notions of controllability for closed quantum systems described by the Liouville-von Neumann equation. We derive new necessary and sufficient conditions for accessibility of open quantum systems modelled by the Lindblad-Kossakowski master equation. To this end, we exploit a well-studied topic of differential geometry, namely the classification of all matrix Lie-groups which act transitively on the Grassmann manifold or the punctured Euclidean space. For the special case of coupled spin-1/2 systems, we obtain a remarkably simple characterization of accessibility. These accessibility results correct and refine previous statements in the quantum control literature.

DOI
10.1109/tac.2012.2195870

Related papers

Kontrollierbarkeitsaspekte der Lindblad-Kossakowski Master-Gleichung : Ein Lie-theoretischer Ansatz

Kurniawan, Indra

One main task, which is considerably important in many applications in quantum control, is to explore the possibilities of steering a quantum system from an initial state to a target state. This thesis focuses on fundamental control-theoretical issues of quantum dynamics described by the Lindblad-Kossakowski master equation which arises as a bilinear control system on some underlying real vector spaces, e.g controllability aspects and the structure of reachable sets. Based on Lie-algebraic methods from nonlinear control theory, the thesis presents a unified approach to control problems of finite dimensional closed and open quantum systems. In particular, a simplified treatment for controllability of closed quantum systems as well as new accessibility results for open quantum systems are obtained. The main tools to derive the results are the well-known classifications of all matrix Lie groups which act transitively on Grassmann manifolds, and respectively, on real vector spaces without the origin. It is also shown in this thesis that accessibiity of the Lindblad-Kossakowski master equation is a generic property. Moreover, based on the theoretical accessibility results, an algorithm is developed to decide when the Lindblad-Kossakowski master equation is accessible.

•Jan 1, 2009•0 citations

A complete classification of operator controllability for closed three-level quantum systems driven by a single control

Sergey Kuznetsov, Alexander Pechen

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.

quant-pharXiv:2610.14938•Oct 13, 2026•0 citations

Controllability of quantum mechanical systems with continuous spectra

TZYH JONG TARN, J. W. Clark, Dennis G. Lucarelli

The property of controllability of quantum systems is revisited. In the case of a system having this property, couplings to external agents are available whose adjustment can guide the state to any chosen target on a suitably defined manifold (or arbitrarily close to any such target) at any chosen time. With due consideration to unbounded operators corresponding to physical observables possessing continuous spectra, sufficient conditions for controllability based on Lie-algebraic arguments are obtained. The results are not limited to finite-dimensional systems, nor to infinite-dimensional systems with discrete spectra. The applicability of the results to systems with both bound and scattering states is demonstrated for the case of the one-dimensional Poschl-Teller potential. Attention is also directed to transitivity of the pertinent Lie algebra of a system without drift as a necessary and sufficient condition for controllability.

IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC)•Nov 11, 2002•11 citations

On the controllability of quantum-mechanical systems

Garng M. Huang, TZYH JONG TARN, John W. Clark

The systems-theoretic concept of controllability is elaborated for quantum-mechanical systems, sufficient conditions being sought under which the state vector ψ can be guided in time to a chosen point in the Hilbert space ℋ of the system. The Schrödinger equation for a quantum object influenced by adjustable external fields provides a state-evolution equation which is linear in ψ and linear in the external controls (thus a bilinear control system). For such systems the existence of a dense analytic domain 𝒟ω in the sense of Nelson, together with the assumption that the Lie algebra associated with the system dynamics gives rise to a tangent space of constant finite dimension, permits the adaptation of the geometric approach developed for finite-dimensional bilinear and nonlinear control systems. Conditions are derived for global controllability on the intersection of 𝒟ω with a suitably defined finite-dimensional submanifold of the unit sphere Sℋ in ℋ. Several soluble examples are presented to illuminate the general theoretical results.

Journal of Mathematical Physics•Nov 1, 1983•404 citations

New Results on Smooth Controllability of Quantum Mechanical Systems

Re-Bing Wu, Tzyh‐Jong Tarn, Chunwen Li

Quantum control over scattering states has potentially important applications in the future quantum technologies. However, a rigorous theoretical study is difficult due to the nonlocal nature of scattering states. This paper introduces a mathematical framework to deal with general quantum control systems that allow noncompact and infinite dimensional controllability Lie algebras, within which the generated infinite dimensional Lie groups are used to represent flows of scattering states. Then we present the concept of smooth controllability on infinite dimensional manifolds, and a criterion for approximate smooth strong controllability. This is a nontrivial extension of the existing results of controllability based on the analysis over finite dimensional vector spaces to analysis over infinite dimensional manifolds. It also opens up many interesting problems for future studies.

arXiv:quant-ph/0409121•Sep 18, 2004•1 citation

CONTROL OF QUANTUM SYSTEMS

J. W. Clark, Dennis G. Lucarelli, Tzyh‐Jong Tarn

A quantum system subject to external fields is said to be controllable if these fields can be adjusted to guide the state vector to a desired destination in the state space of the system. Fundamental results on controllability are reviewed against the background of recent ideas and advances in two seemingly disparate endeavours: (i) laser control of chemical reactions and (ii) quantum computation. Using Lie-algebraic methods, sufficient conditions have been derived for global controllability on a finite-dimensional manifold of an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space, in the case that the Hamiltonian and control operators, possibly unbounded, possess a common dense domain of analytic vectors. Some simple examples are presented. A synergism between quantum control and quantum computation is creating a host of exciting new opportunities for both activities. The impact of these developments on computational many-body theory could be profound.

arXiv:nucl-th/0205005•International Journal of Modern Physics B•Nov 10, 2003•40 citations
Knowledge about to what extent quantum dynamical systems can be steered by coherent controls is indispensable for future developments in quantum technology. The purpose of this paper is to analyze such controllability aspects for finite dimensional bilinear quantum control systems. We use a unified approach based on Lie-algebraic methods from nonlinear control theory to revisit known and to establish new results for closed and open quantum systems. In particular, we provide a simplified characterization of different notions of controllability for closed quantum systems described by the Liouville-von Neumann equation. We derive new necessary and sufficient conditions for accessibility of open quantum systems modelled by the Lindblad-Kossakowski master equation. To this end, we exploit a well-studied topic of differential geometry, namely the classification of all matrix Lie-groups which act transitively on the Grassmann manifold or the punctured Euclidean space. For the special case of coupled spin-1/2 systems, we obtain a remarkably simple characterization of accessibility. These accessibility results correct and refine previous statements in the quantum control literature.
One main task, which is considerably important in many applications in quantum control, is to explore the possibilities of steering a quantum system from an initial state to a target state. This thesis focuses on fundamental control-theoretical issues of quantum dynamics described by the Lindblad-Kossakowski master equation which arises as a bilinear control system on some underlying real vector spaces, e.g controllability aspects and the structure of reachable sets. Based on Lie-algebraic methods from nonlinear control theory, the thesis presents a unified approach to control problems of finite dimensional closed and open quantum systems. In particular, a simplified treatment for controllability of closed quantum systems as well as new accessibility results for open quantum systems are obtained. The main tools to derive the results are the well-known classifications of all matrix Lie groups which act transitively on Grassmann manifolds, and respectively, on real vector spaces without the origin. It is also shown in this thesis that accessibiity of the Lindblad-Kossakowski master equation is a generic property. Moreover, based on the theoretical accessibility results, an algorithm is developed to decide when the Lindblad-Kossakowski master equation is accessible.
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 su(N)\mathfrak{su}(N)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.
The property of controllability of quantum systems is revisited. In the case of a system having this property, couplings to external agents are available whose adjustment can guide the state to any chosen target on a suitably defined manifold (or arbitrarily close to any such target) at any chosen time. With due consideration to unbounded operators corresponding to physical observables possessing continuous spectra, sufficient conditions for controllability based on Lie-algebraic arguments are obtained. The results are not limited to finite-dimensional systems, nor to infinite-dimensional systems with discrete spectra. The applicability of the results to systems with both bound and scattering states is demonstrated for the case of the one-dimensional Poschl-Teller potential. Attention is also directed to transitivity of the pertinent Lie algebra of a system without drift as a necessary and sufficient condition for controllability.
The systems-theoretic concept of controllability is elaborated for quantum-mechanical systems, sufficient conditions being sought under which the state vector ψ can be guided in time to a chosen point in the Hilbert space ℋ of the system. The Schrödinger equation for a quantum object influenced by adjustable external fields provides a state-evolution equation which is linear in ψ and linear in the external controls (thus a bilinear control system). For such systems the existence of a dense analytic domain 𝒟ω in the sense of Nelson, together with the assumption that the Lie algebra associated with the system dynamics gives rise to a tangent space of constant finite dimension, permits the adaptation of the geometric approach developed for finite-dimensional bilinear and nonlinear control systems. Conditions are derived for global controllability on the intersection of 𝒟ω with a suitably defined finite-dimensional submanifold of the unit sphere Sℋ in ℋ. Several soluble examples are presented to illuminate the general theoretical results.
Quantum control over scattering states has potentially important applications in the future quantum technologies. However, a rigorous theoretical study is difficult due to the nonlocal nature of scattering states. This paper introduces a mathematical framework to deal with general quantum control systems that allow noncompact and infinite dimensional controllability Lie algebras, within which the generated infinite dimensional Lie groups are used to represent flows of scattering states. Then we present the concept of smooth controllability on infinite dimensional manifolds, and a criterion for approximate smooth strong controllability. This is a nontrivial extension of the existing results of controllability based on the analysis over finite dimensional vector spaces to analysis over infinite dimensional manifolds. It also opens up many interesting problems for future studies.
A quantum system subject to external fields is said to be controllable if these fields can be adjusted to guide the state vector to a desired destination in the state space of the system. Fundamental results on controllability are reviewed against the background of recent ideas and advances in two seemingly disparate endeavours: (i) laser control of chemical reactions and (ii) quantum computation. Using Lie-algebraic methods, sufficient conditions have been derived for global controllability on a finite-dimensional manifold of an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space, in the case that the Hamiltonian and control operators, possibly unbounded, possess a common dense domain of analytic vectors. Some simple examples are presented. A synergism between quantum control and quantum computation is creating a host of exciting new opportunities for both activities. The impact of these developments on computational many-body theory could be profound.