Time-Optimal Quantum Evolution

2005/11/04 by A. Carlini, Alberto Carlini, Akio Hosoya +2 · 9 citations
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Quantum Computing Algorithms and Architecture #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #quant-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.96.060503

published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 060503 (2006) · 4 pages, 1 figure

arxiv created 2005/11/04 · openalex publication_date 2006/02/15 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

We present a general framework for finding the time-optimal evolution and the optimal Hamiltonian for a quantum system with a given set of initial and final states. Our formulation is based on the variational principle and is analogous to that for the brachistochrone in classical mechanics. We reduce the problem to a formal equation for the Hamiltonian which depends on certain constraint functions specifying the range of available Hamiltonians. For some simple examples of the constraints, we explicitly find the optimal solutions.

Citations

• The maximum speed of dynamical evolution

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