Classical dissipative cost of quantum control

TL;DR

This paper investigates the thermodynamic cost of quantum control protocols by analyzing the entropy produced by classical control fields, with case studies on magnetic fields and ion traps.

Contribution

It provides a novel framework linking control protocol costs to dissipation, focusing on classical entropy production in quantum control.

Findings

Entropy production quantifies control cost in quantum protocols.

Case studies demonstrate the framework's applicability to real systems.

Results suggest minimizing entropy production reduces thermodynamic costs.

Abstract

Protocols for non-adiabatic quantum control often require the use of classical time varying fields. Assessing the thermodynamic cost of such protocols, however, is far from trivial. In this letter we study the irreversible entropy produced by the classical apparatus generating the control fields, thus providing a direct link between the cost of a control protocol and dissipation. We focus, in particular, on the case of time-dependent magnetic fields and shortcuts to adiabaticity. Our results are showcased with two experimentally realisable case studies: the Landau-Zener model of a spin-1/2 particle in a magnetic field and an ion confined in a Penning trap.