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Frontiers in Optics

Quantum control

Ian A. Walmsley

Published Jan 1, 2004• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The precise manipulation of quantum systems offers new challenges for control engineering as well as new potential both for science and technology. In this tutorial I will sketch the landscape of control scenarios and summarise the state of the field in closed loop control of atoms, molecules and photons. Full-text article is not available.

DOI
10.1364/fio.2004.fwe1

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The precise manipulation of quantum systems offers new challenges for control engineering as well as new potential both for science and technology. In this tutorial I will sketch the landscape of control scenarios and summarise the state of the field in closed loop control of atoms, molecules and photons. Full-text article is not available.
The laws of quantum mechanics capture the behavior of physical systems at the smallest observable spatiotemporal scales. By pushing systems to the very edge of physical limits, quantum technology has the potential to revolutionize the state of the art in a variety of domains, including metrology[1],[2],[3],[4], communication[5],[6],[7], and computing[8],[9],[10]. As the field continues its transition from a scientific curiosity to an engineering endeavor, experimental prototypes found in physics laboratories must be converted into reliable hardware platforms that operate in less sheltered contexts. This step (from quantum science to quantum engineering) represents a unique opportunity for the IEEE Control Systems Society to provide meaningful insights on how to systematically steer these systems to the desired operating point.
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This paper gives an overview of the logic behind current conceptual issues directed towards controlling quantum phenomena. The role of theory to translate these concepts into laboratory designs will be highlighted, along with an explanation of the complexities of achieving realistic designs. As a result, it will be argued that closed-loop feedback control of quantum dynamics in the laboratory is not only feasible, but will typically be a necessity for the achievement of practical control over quantum phenomena.
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