Quantum Operations: technical or fundamental challenge?

TL;DR

This paper investigates the feasibility of implementing quantum operations using idealized and semiclassical fields, exploring both theoretical and practical aspects, with implications for fundamental quantum principles and experimental verification.

Contribution

It analyzes the potential of soft external fields and ion traps to perform quantum operations, proposing non-perturbative algorithms that could realize abstract quantum pulses in practice.

Findings

Abstract δ-pulses can be physically realized with non-perturbative algorithms

Simple dynamical manipulations may challenge the time-energy uncertainty principle

Results could test fundamental quantum ideas like non-commutative geometries

Abstract

A class of unitary operations generated by idealized, semiclassical fields is studied. The operations implemented by sharp potential kicks are revisited and the possibility of performing them by softly varying external fields is examined. The possibility of using the ion traps as 'operation factories' transforming quantum states is discussed. The non-perturbative algorithms indicate that the results of abstract $\delta$-pulses of oscillator potentials can become real. Some of them, if empirically achieved, could be essential to examine certain atypical quantum ideas. In particular, simple dynamical manipulations might contribute to the Aharonov-Bohm criticism of the time-energy uncertainty principle, some other, to verify the existence of fundamental precision limits of the position measurements or the reality of `non-commutative geometries'.