Quantum Control Modelling, Methods, and Applications

Abstract

This review concerns quantum control results and methods that, over the years, have been used in the various operations involving quantum systems. Most of these methods have been originally developed outside the context of quantum physics, and, then, adapted to take into account the specificities of the various quantum physical platforms. Quantum control consists in designing adequate control signals required to efficiently manipulate systems conforming the laws of quantum mechanics in order to ensure the associated desired behaviours and performances. This work attempts to provide a thorough and self-contained introduction and review of the various quantum control theories and their applications. It encompasses issues spanning quantum control modelling, problem formulation, concepts of controllability, as well as a selection of the main control theories. Given the vastness of the field, we tried our best to be as concise as possible, and, for the details, the reader is pointed out to a profusion of references. The contents of the review are organized in the three major classes of control problems - open-loop control, closed-loop learning control, and feedback control - and, for each one of them, we present the main developments in quantum control theory. Finally, concerning the importance of attaining robustness and reliability due to inherent fragility of quantum systems, methods for quantum robust control are also surveyed.