Controlling the uncontrollable: Quantum control of open system dynamics

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates quantum control of open systems using a thermodynamically consistent master equation, enabling indirect control of dissipation and the generation of non-unitary maps through coherent control techniques.

Contribution

It introduces a novel control framework that incorporates external drives into the dynamical equations, allowing for indirect manipulation of dissipation in open quantum systems.

Findings

Controlled entropy-changing state transformations in N-level systems.

Generation of quantum non-unitary maps, including reset and dissipative unitary maps.

Analysis of control protocols for heating and cooling processes.

Abstract

Quantum control of an open system is demonstrated employing a thermodynamically consistent master equation. In this framework, the open system dynamics depend on the control protocol due to the dressing of the system by the drive. This interrelation serves as the key element for control. The influence of the external drive is incorporated within the dynamical equation, enabling an indirect control of the dissipation. The control paradigm is displayed by analyzing entropy changing state to state transformations, heating and cooling N-level systems. Following, we study the generation of quantum non-unitary maps via coherent control. These include both reset maps with complete memory loss and single-qubit unitary maps under dissipative conditions.