Coherent Control of Quantum Dynamics with Sequences of Unitary Phase-Kick Pulses

TL;DR

This paper reviews methods for controlling quantum dynamics using sequences of unitary phase-kick pulses, highlighting their relation to dynamical decoupling and their potential for experimental applications.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of coherent control and dynamical decoupling techniques, emphasizing recent experimental advances in quantum system manipulation.

Findings

Enhanced control of tunneling and decoherence demonstrated

Sequences of unitary pulses effectively manipulate quantum interference

Potential for significant experimental impact in quantum information processing

Abstract

Coherent optical control schemes exploit the coherence of laser pulses to change the phases of interfering dynamical pathways in order to manipulate dynamical processes. These active control methods are closely related to dynamical decoupling techniques, popularized in the field of Quantum Information. Inspired by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, dynamical decoupling methods apply sequences of unitary operations to modify the interference phenomena responsible for the system dynamics thus also belonging to the general class of coherent control techniques. Here we review related developments in the fields of coherent optical control and dynamical decoupling, with emphasis on control of tunneling and decoherence in general model systems. Considering recent experimental breakthroughs in the demonstration of active control of a variety of systems, we anticipate that the reviewed coherent control scenarios and dynamical decoupling methods should raise significant experimental interest.