"Comparing the cost of quantum control" Steve Campbell, University College Dublin, Ireland

Speaker

Prof. Steve Campbell
Assistant Professor, University College Dublin, Ireland

Abstract

A popular saying states that “there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.” Although quite casually formulated, this phrase expresses nothing less than the gist of the second law of thermodynamics, namely, that nonideal processes are always accompanied by the irreversible expense of a thermodynamic resource. Nevertheless, recent research in quantum control and quantum thermodynamics has seen growing popularity of so-called “shortcuts to adiabaticity,” i.e., fast processes with the same outcome as an ideal, infinitely slow process. While effectively adiabatic dynamics can be realised through a variety of techniques, often overlooked has been a critical assessment of the energetic resources required for their implementation. Recently several approaches to assess this “cost” have been proposed, thus providing a quantitative framework to critically compare and contrast these techniques. By focusing on paradigmatic settings involving only a few degrees of freedom, we assess the cost of achieving high fidelity control and in the process provide a hierarchy in the resource intensiveness of quantum control.

Looking forward to seeing many of you at the seminar.

-Quantum Systems Unit / Busch Unit