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arXiv:quant-ph/0501048 · Physical Review A

Four-level and two-qubit systems, subalgebras, and unitary integration

A. R. P. Rau, G. Selvaraj, Dmitry B. Uskov

Published Jun 15, 2005• 29 citations
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Abstract

Four-level systems in quantum optics, and for representing two qubits in quantum computing, are difficult to solve for general time-dependent Hamiltonians. A systematic procedure is presented which combines analytical handling of the algebraic operator aspects with simple solutions of classical, first-order differential equations. In particular, by exploiting $\mathrm{su}(2)\ensuremath{\bigoplus}\mathrm{su}(2)$ and $\mathrm{su}(2)\ensuremath{\bigoplus}\mathrm{su}(2)\ensuremath{\bigoplus}\mathrm{u}(1)$ subalgebras of the full SU(4) dynamical group of the system, the nontrivial part of the final calculation is reduced to a single Riccati (first-order, quadratically nonlinear) equation, itself simply solved. Examples are provided of two-qubit problems from the recent literature, including implementation of two-qubit gates with Josephson junctions.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.71.062316

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Four-level systems in quantum optics, and for representing two qubits in quantum computing, are difficult to solve for general time-dependent Hamiltonians. A systematic procedure is presented which combines analytical handling of the algebraic operator aspects with simple solutions of classical, first-order differential equations. In particular, by exploiting su(2)\ensuremath⨁su(2)\mathrm{su}(2)\ensuremath{\bigoplus}\mathrm{su}(2)su(2)\ensuremath⨁su(2) and su(2)\ensuremath⨁su(2)\ensuremath⨁u(1)\mathrm{su}(2)\ensuremath{\bigoplus}\mathrm{su}(2)\ensuremath{\bigoplus}\mathrm{u}(1)su(2)\ensuremath⨁su(2)\ensuremath⨁u(1) subalgebras of the full SU(4) dynamical group of the system, the nontrivial part of the final calculation is reduced to a single Riccati (first-order, quadratically nonlinear) equation, itself simply solved. Examples are provided of two-qubit problems from the recent literature, including implementation of two-qubit gates with Josephson junctions.
Both unitary evolution and the effects of dissipation and decoherence for a general three-level system are of wide interest in quantum optics, molecular physics, and elsewhere. A previous paper presented a technique for solving the time-dependent operator equations involved but under certain restrictive conditions. We now extend our results to a general three-level system with arbitrary time-dependent Hamiltonians and Lindblad operators. Analytical handling of the SU(3) algebra of the eight operators involved leaves behind a set of coupled first-order differential equations for classical functions. Solution of this set gives a complete solution of the quantum problem, without having to invoke rotating-wave or other approximations. Numerical illustrations for multiphoton couplings and quantum control are given.
The Liouville-Bloch equation for a general spin jjj in time-dependent external fields is solved as a unitary product of exponential operators. Operator noncommutativity is explicitly handled so as to leave behind a set of first-order differential equations for classical functions of time. Of these, only one is nontrivial and, once solved, the remaining yield to simple quadrature. Exact solutions or perturbative expansions of the classical equations can be used for analytical or numerical integration of the quantal equations.
A compact derivation is given for propagators of a wide class of time-dependent Hamiltonians that describe coupled spin (``qubit'') pairs. As many as eight of the 16 operators in the system, each with its own time-dependent coefficient, can be handled with no more difficulty than a single spin in a magnetic field. A single first-order (in time), quadratically nonlinear differential equation for a classical function is the only nontrivial ingredient in constructing the full quantum propagator for a wide variety of magnetic coherences and qubit interactions.
Dissipation and decoherence, and the evolution from pure to mixed states in quantum physics, are handled through master equations for the density matrix. Master equations such as the Lindblad equation preserve the trace of this matrix. Viewing them as first-order time-dependent operator equations for the elements of the density matrix, a unitary integration procedure can be adapted to solve for these elements. A simple model for decoherence preserves the Hermiticity of the density matrix. A single, classical Riccati equation is the only one requiring numerical handling to obtain a full solution of the quantum evolution. The procedure is general, valid for any number of levels, but is illustrated here for a three-level system with two driving fields. For various choices of the initial state, we study the evolution of the system as a function of the amplitudes, relative frequencies, and phases of the driven fields and of the strength of the decoherence. The monotonic growth of the entropy is followed as the system evolves from a pure to a mixed state. An example is provided by the n=3n=3n=3 states of the hydrogen atom in a time-dependent electric field, such degenerate manifolds affording an analytical solution.
A simple systematic way of obtaining analytically solvable Hamiltonians for quantum two-level systems is presented. In this method, a time-dependent Hamiltonian and the resulting unitary evolution operator are connected through an arbitrary function of time, furnishing us with new analytically solvable cases. The method is surprisingly simple, direct, and transparent and is applicable to a wide class of two-level Hamiltonians with no involved constraint on the input function. A few examples illustrate how the method leads to simple solvable Hamiltonians and dynamics.
Two-level systems are one of the most important quantum systems and they form the basis of quantum computers. We briefly look at the traditional approach to two-level systems with an external driving field as well as those subjected to noise. This project is aimed at studying two specific methods for obtaining analytic solutions for two-level systems. One of the methods enables us to obtain analytic solutions for driven time-dependent two-level systems while the other attempts to give exact solution of qubit decoherence using a transfer matrix method. A thorough study of both papers is done and results are reproduced. The latter method is generalized for a qutrit system as well as a two qubit system subjected to noise. A general method is formally derived for an N-dimensional quantum system and the difficulties in applying the method in real life systems is discussed.