Control of open physical systems with optimized fields

• Grant number: 24/22593-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Principal Investigator: Emanuel Fernandes de Lima
• Grantee: Emanuel Fernandes de Lima
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The present project aims to investigate the control of open physical systems with external fields, i.e., those systems that are not completely isolated and that, therefore, interact with the environment around them. The focus of the investigation is on quantum systems, which is motivated by the current development of quantum technologies, such as quantum computers and annealers. Central tasks in these devices are: the transfer between predetermined states, the construction of unitary operators, called quantum gates, and the dynamical switching between two Hamiltonians. However, the interaction between the system and the environment induces loss of coherence and dissipation and represents severe obstacles to the accomplishment of these tasks satisfactorily. An essential prerequisite for the control of a system is the ability to calculate its dynamics. In the case of open quantum systems, the dynamics can be classified as Markovian, when the time scale of the system is large compared to the decay times of the environment, or non-Markovian. While the control of Markovian systems has been extensively studied, the same cannot be said about the control of non-Markovian systems. In this project, we intend to use, develop and adapt quantum control strategies to perform the transfer between states, the construction of quantum gates and Hamiltonian switching in both Markovian and non-Markovian open systems. We will seek to perform the operations in a minimum time, thus avoiding the deleterious effects of the environment. Among the techniques to be employed are those based on Optimal Control Theory, as well as techniques based on machine learning. We will also improve existing approaches, for example, by combining dynamic decoupling with optimized fields in order to make the technique more efficient and robust. Therefore, the development of this project will allow advances in the control of open quantum systems with high efficiency. (AU)