Towards Quantum Cybernetics

TL;DR

This paper explores extending classical cybernetics principles to quantum systems, discussing potential benefits, challenges, and the theoretical implications of quantum cybernetics for controlling complex quantum systems.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of quantum cybernetics, analyzing how classical control theories can be adapted to quantum systems and highlighting the theoretical challenges involved.

Findings

Quantum cybernetics offers new perspectives for controlling quantum systems.

Fundamental limits similar to classical systems are discussed in the quantum context.

The paper identifies key challenges in generalizing cybernetic principles to quantum mechanics.

Abstract

Classical cybernetics is a successful meta-theory to model the regulation of complex systems from an abstract information-theoretic viewpoint, regardless of the properties of the system under scrutiny. Fundamental limits to the controllability of an open system can be formalized in terms of the law of requisite variety, which is derived from the second law of thermodynamics. These concepts are briefly reviewed, and the chances, challenges and potential gains arising from the generalisation of such a framework to the quantum domain are discussed.