We develop an effective scheme for implementing error-insensitive population transfer in a three-level system (qutrit) by invariant-based shortcuts with optimized drivings. Based on the method of inverse engineering, target population transfers can be performed in a shortcut manner. Taking into account the deviation errors and then optimizing the coherent drivings, we can improve the target population transfers to be insensitive to deviations of frequency detuning or Rabi coupling. Particularly, with an appropriate choice of coherent drivings, our scheme could be insensitive to these two kinds of errors simultaneously. As one of the potential applications, our scheme may remove the control errors of quantum operations on superconducting artificial atoms. By combining shortcuts to adiabaticity with optimal control, the protocol could offer a promising avenue to explore fast and robust quantum information processing experimentally.
Optimal control of quantum system is significant for information science and technology. Here, an efficient scheme is proposed for implementing fast population transfer in a spin qutrit of nitrogen-vacancy center via shortcuts to adiabaticity (STA) with simplified drivings. At two-photon resonance, a
Λ -configuration interaction between the spin qutrit and driving fields can be obtained effectively. By the invariant-based STA, the reversible population transfer can be realized using the Rabi pulses with sine and cosine waveforms. Compared with the superadiabatic transitionless driving, the present pulses in our strategy become simplified technically, contributing to reduce the error effect of control parameter deviations. Moreover, the high-fidelity quantum operations can be performed with the accessible decoherence rates. The protocol could offer an optimized avenue towards the STA-based quantum control of spin qutrit experimentally.