Controlled quantum state transfer in $XX$ spin chains at the Quantum Speed Limit

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how optimal control pulses can nearly reach the quantum speed limit for state transfer in homogeneous $XX$ spin chains, revealing relationships between control complexity, energy, and robustness.

Contribution

It introduces optimized control pulses for quantum state transfer in spin chains that approach the quantum speed limit and compares single and dual actuator schemes for robustness.

Findings

Control pulses achieve near-perfect transfer at times on the order of $N/2$

Dual actuator scheme is more robust against static disorder

Larger control times require more complex pulses and higher energy

Abstract

The Quantum Speed Limit can be found in many different situations, in particular in the propagation of information through quantum spin chains. In homogeneous chains it implies that taking information from one extreme of the chain to the other will take a time $O(N/2)$, where $N$ is the chain length. Using Optimal Control Theory we design control pulses that achieve near perfect population transfer between the extremes of the chain at times on the order of $N/2$, or larger, depending on which features of the transfer process are to be studied. Our results show that the control pulses that govern the dynamical behaviour of chains with different lengths are closely related, that larger control times imply more complicated control pulses than those found at times on the order of $N/2$ and also larger driving energies. The pulses were constructed for control schemes involving one or two actuators in chains with exchange couplings without static disorder. Our results also show that the two actuator scheme is considerably more robust against the presence of static disorder than the scheme that uses just a single one.