https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2015-60464-1
Regular Article
Training Schrödinger’s cat: quantum optimal control
Strategic report on current status, visions and goals for research in Europe
1
Department Chemie, TU-München (TUM),
Lichtenbergstrasse
4,
85747
Garching,
Germany
2
CNRS, CMAP École Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France and Team GECO, INRIA Saclay,
Ile-de-France
3
Institute for Complex Quantum Systems and Center for Integrated
Quantum Science and Technology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89069
Ulm,
Germany
4
Theoretische Physik, Universität Kassel,
Heinrich-Plett-Str.
40, 24132
Kassel,
Germany
5
Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre, University of
Nottingham, University
Park, NG7 2RD,
UK
6
Institute of Chemistry, the Fritz Haber Research Center for
Molecular Dynamics, The Hebrew University, 91904
Jerusalem,
Israel
7
School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, University Road,
Southampton,
SO17 1BJ,
UK
8
Institut für Organische Chemie and Institut für Biologische
Grenzflächen, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Fritz-Haber-Weg 6, 76131
Karlsruhe,
Germany
9
College of Science, Swansea University,
Singleton Park, Swansea SA2
8PP, Wales,
UK
10
Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne (ICB), UMR 6303
CNRS-Université de Bourgogne-Franche Comté, 9 avenue A. Savary, BP 47 870, 21078
Dijon Cedex, France
11
Institute for Advanced Study, Technische Universität München,
Lichtenbergstrasse
2a, 85748
Garching,
Germany
12
Theoretische Physik, Saarland University,
66123
Saarbrücken,
Germany
a
e-mail: fwm@lusi.uni-sb.de
Received: 7 August 2015
Received in final form: 22 September 2015
Published online: 17 December 2015
It is control that turns scientific knowledge into useful technology: in physics and engineering it provides a systematic way for driving a dynamical system from a given initial state into a desired target state with minimized expenditure of energy and resources. As one of the cornerstones for enabling quantum technologies, optimal quantum control keeps evolving and expanding into areas as diverse as quantum-enhanced sensing, manipulation of single spins, photons, or atoms, optical spectroscopy, photochemistry, magnetic resonance (spectroscopy as well as medical imaging), quantum information processing and quantum simulation. In this communication, state-of-the-art quantum control techniques are reviewed and put into perspective by a consortium of experts in optimal control theory and applications to spectroscopy, imaging, as well as quantum dynamics of closed and open systems. We address key challenges and sketch a roadmap for future developments.
Key words: Quantum Information
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