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Linear Algebra and its Applications

Quantum subspace controllability implying full controllability

Francesca Albertini, Domenico D’Alessandro

Published Nov 7, 2024• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

In the analysis of controllability of finite dimensional quantum systems, subspace controllability refers to the situation where the underlying Hilbert space splits into the direct sum of invariant subspaces, and, on each of such invariant subspaces, it is possible to generate any arbitrary unitary operation using appropriate control functions. This is a typical situation in the presence of symmetries for the dynamics. We investigate whether and when if subspace controllability is verified, the addition of an extra Hamiltonian to the dynamics implies full controllability of the system. Under the natural (and necessary) condition that the new Hamiltonian connects all the invariant subspaces, we show that this is always the case, except for a very specific case we shall describe. Even in this specific case, a weaker notion of controllability, controllability of the state ( Pure State Controllability ) is verified.

DOI
10.1016/j.laa.2024.11.002

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In the analysis of controllability of finite dimensional quantum systems, subspace controllability refers to the situation where the underlying Hilbert space splits into the direct sum of invariant subspaces, and, on each of such invariant subspaces, it is possible to generate any arbitrary unitary operation using appropriate control functions. This is a typical situation in the presence of symmetries for the dynamics. We investigate whether and when if subspace controllability is verified, the addition of an extra Hamiltonian to the dynamics implies full controllability of the system. Under the natural (and necessary) condition that the new Hamiltonian connects all the invariant subspaces, we show that this is always the case, except for a very specific case we shall describe. Even in this specific case, a weaker notion of controllability, controllability of the state ( Pure State Controllability ) is verified.
Abstract. This paper describes a framework for the controllability analysis of networks of [Formula: see text] quantum systems of an arbitrary dimension [Formula: see text] , qudits, with dynamics determined by Hamiltonians that are invariant under the permutation group [Formula: see text]. Because of the symmetry, the underlying Hilbert space, [Formula: see text], splits into invariant subspaces for the Lie algebra of [Formula: see text]-invariant elements in [Formula: see text], denoted here by [Formula: see text]. The dynamical Lie algebra [Formula: see text], which determines the controllability properties of the system, is a Lie subalgebra of such a Lie algebra [Formula: see text]. If [Formula: see text] acts as [Formula: see text] on each of the invariant subspaces [Formula: see text], the system is called subspace controllable. The described approach is based on recognizing that such a splitting of the Hilbert space [Formula: see text] coincides with the Clebsch–Gordan splitting of [Formula: see text] into irreducible representations of [Formula: see text]. In this view, [Formula: see text] is the direct sum of certain [Formula: see text] for some [Formula: see text]’s we shall specify and its center, which is the Abelian (Lie) algebra generated by the Casimir operators. Most of the results presented are for general [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], but the paper provides a complete treatment and proof of subspace controllability for the new case of a system with [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], that is, three qutrits. The results are motivated by recent great interest in symmetric quantum states and systems (see, e.g., [K. Eckert et al., Ann. Phys., 299 (2001), pp. 88–127], [A. W. Harrow, “The Church of the Symmetric Subspace,” https://arxiv.org/abs/1308.6595 , 2013], [P. Migdal, J. Rodriguez-Laguna, and M. Lewenstein, Phys. Rev. A, 88 (2013), 021335]) both at the theoretical and experimental levels and by recent proposals in geometric quantum machine learning [M. Cerezo et al., Nature Comput. Sci., 2 (2022), pp. 567–576], [Q. T. Nguyen et al., PRX Quant., 5 (2024), 020328] to exploit symmetries in the data and in quantum circuits to improve the performance of learning protocols.
We describe a framework for the controllability analysis of networks of nnn quantum systems of an arbitrary dimension ddd, {\it qudits}, with dynamics determined by Hamiltonians that are invariant under the permutation group SnS_nSn​. Because of the symmetry, the underlying Hilbert space, H=(Cd)⊗n{\cal H}=(\mathbb{C}^d)^{\otimes n}H=(Cd)⊗n, splits into invariant subspaces for the Lie algebra of SnS_nSn​-invariant elements in u(dn)u(d^n)u(dn), denoted here by uSn(dn)u^{S_n}(d^n)uSn​(dn). The dynamical Lie algebra L{\cal L}L, which determines the controllability properties of the system, is a Lie subalgebra of such a Lie algebra uSn(dn)u^{S_n}(d^n)uSn​(dn). If L{\cal L}L acts as su(dim⁡(V))su\left( \dim(V) \right)su(dim(V)) on each of the invariant subspaces VVV, the system is called {\it subspace controllable}. Our approach is based on recognizing that such a splitting of the Hilbert space H{\cal H}H coincides with the {\it Clebsch-Gordan} splitting of (Cd)⊗n(\mathbb{C}^d)^{\otimes n}(Cd)⊗n into {\it irreducible representations} of su(d)su(d)su(d). In this view, uSn(dn)u^{S_n}(d^n)uSn​(dn), is the direct sum of certain su(nj)su(n_j)su(nj​) for some njn_jnj​'s we shall specify, and its {\it center} which is the Abelian (Lie) algebra generated by the {\it Casimir operators}. Generalizing the situation previously considered in the literature, we consider dynamics with arbitrary local simultaneous control on the qudits and a symmetric two body interaction. Most of the results presented are for general nnn and ddd but we recast previous results on nnn qubits in this new general framework and provide a complete treatment and proof of subspace controllability for the new case of n=3n=3n=3, d=3d=3d=3, that is, {\it three qutrits}.
We consider a class of spin networks where each spin in a certain set interacts via Ising coupling with a single central spin. This is a common situation for instance in NV centers in diamonds. Due to the permutation symmetries of the network, the system is not globally controllable but it displays invariant subspaces of the underlying Hilbert space. The system is said to be subspace controllable if it is controllable on each of these subspaces. We characterize the given invariant subspaces and the dynamical Lie algebra of this class of systems and prove subspace controllability.
We consider a class of spin networks where each spin in a certain set interacts, via Ising coupling, with a set of central spins, and the control acts simultaneously on all the spins. This is a common situation for instance in NV centers in diamonds, and we focus on the physical case of up to two central spins. Due to the permutation symmetries of the network, the system is not globally controllable but it displays invariant subspaces of the underlying Hilbert space. The system is said to be subspace controllable if it is controllable on each of these subspaces. We characterize the given invariant subspaces and the dynamical Lie algebra of this class of systems and prove subspace controllability in every case.
We propose a general framework for investigating a large class of stabilization problems in Markovian quantum systems. Building on the notions of invariant and attractive quantum subsystem, we characterize attractive subspaces by exploring the structure of the invariant sets for the dynamics. Our general analysis results are exploited to assess the ability of open-loop Hamiltonian and output-feedback control strategies to synthesize Markovian generators which stabilize a target subsystem, subspace, or pure-state. In particular, we provide an algebraic characterization of the manifold of stabilizable pure states in arbitrary finite-dimensional Markovian systems, that leads to a constructive strategy for designing the relevant controllers. Implications for stabilization of entangled pure states are addressed by example.
This paper discusses the concept of controllable subspace for open quantum dynamical systems.It is constructively demonstrated that combining structural features of decoherence-free subspaces with the ability to perform open-loop coherent control on open quantum systems will allow decoherence-free subspaces to be controllable.This is in contrast to the observation that open quantum dynamical systems are not open-loop controllable.To a certain extent, this paper gives an alternative control theoretical interpretation on why decoherence-free subspaces can be useful for quantum computation.