- Open Access
Unitary transformations using robust optimal control on a cold atom qudit
Phys. Rev. Research 7, 033069 – Published 16 July, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/fvlj-yph6
Abstract
In this paper, we design and experimentally implement various robust quantum unitary transformations (gates) acting on -dimensional vectors (qudits) by tuning a single control parameter using optimal control theory. The quantum state is represented by the momentum components of a Bose-Einstein condensate placed in an optical lattice, with the lattice position varying over a fixed duration serving as the control parameter. To evaluate the quality of these transformations, we employ standard quantum process tomography. In addition, we show how controlled unitary transformations can be used to extend state stabilization to global stabilization within a controlled vector subspace. Finally, we apply them to state tomography, showing how the information about the relative phase between distant momentum components can be extracted by inducing an interference process.
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Article Text
References (73)
- A. Acín, I. Bloch, H. Buhrman, T. Calarco, C. Eichler, J. Eisert, D. Esteve, N. Gisin, S. Glaser, F. Jelezko, S. Kuhr, M. Lewenstein, M. Riedel, P. Schmidt, R. Thew, A. Wallraff, I. Walmsley, and F. Wilhelm, The quantum technologies roadmap: A European community view, New J. Phys. 20, 080201 (2018).
- J. I. Cirac and P. Zoller, Goals and opportunities in quantum simulation, Nat. Phys. 8, 264 (2012).
- V. Krutyanskiy, M. Galli, V. Krcmarsky, S. Baier, D. A. Fioretto, Y. Pu, A. Mazloom, P. Sekatski, M. Canteri, M. Teller, J. Schupp, J. Bate, M. Meraner, N. Sangouard, B. P. Lanyon, and T. E. Northup, Entanglement of trapped-ion qubits separated by 230 meters, Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 050803 (2023).
- H. Häffner, C. Roos, and R. Blatt, Quantum computing with trapped ions, Phys. Rep. 469, 155 (2008).
- C. Hempel, C. Maier, J. Romero, J. McClean, T. Monz, H. Shen, P. Jurcevic, B. P. Lanyon, P. Love, R. Babbush, A. Aspuru-Guzik, R. Blatt, and C. F. Roos, Quantum chemistry calculations on a trapped-ion quantum simulator, Phys. Rev. X 8, 031022 (2018).
- Y. Nam, J.-S. Chen, N. C. Pisenti, K. Wright, C. Delaney, D. Maslov, K. R. Brown, S. Allen, J. M. Amini, J. Apisdorf, K. M. Beck, A. Blinov, V. Chaplin, M. Chmielewski, C. Collins, S. Debnath, K. M. Hudek, A. M. Ducore, M. Keesan, S. M. Kreikemeier et al., Ground-state energy estimation of the water molecule on a trapped-ion quantum computer, npj Quantum Inf. 6, 33 (2020).
- M. H. Devoret and R. J. Schoelkopf, Superconducting circuits for quantum information: An outlook, Science 339, 1169 (2013).
- A. Kandala, A. Mezzacapo, K. Temme, M. Takita, M. Brink, J. M. Chow, and J. M. Gambetta, Hardware-efficient variational quantum eigensolver for small molecules and quantum magnets, Nature (London) 549, 242 (2017).
- , F. Arute, K. Arya, R. Babbush, D. Bacon, J. C. Bardin, R. Barends, S. Boixo, M. Broughton, B. B. Buckley, D. A. Buell, B. Burkett, N. Bushnell, Y. Chen, Z. Chen, B. Chiaro, R. Collins, W. Courtney, S. Demura, A. Dunsworth et al., Hartree-Fock on a superconducting qubit quantum computer, Science 369, 1084 (2020).
- E. Kiktenko, A. Fedorov, A. Strakhov, and V. Man'ko, Single qudit realization of the Deutsch algorithm using superconducting many-level quantum circuits, Phys. Lett. A 379, 1409 (2015).
- N. Goss, A. Morvan, B. Marinelli, B. K. Mitchell, L. B. Nguyen, R. K. Naik, L. Chen, C. Jünger, J. M. Kreikebaum, D. I. Santiago, J. J. Wallman, and I. Siddiqi, High-fidelity qutrit entangling gates for superconducting circuits, Nat. Commun. 13, 7481 (2022).
- C. Kloeffel and D. Loss, Prospects for spin-based quantum computing in quantum dots, Annu. Rev. Condens. Matter Phys. 4, 51 (2013).
- H. Shui, S. Jin, Z. Li, F. Wei, X. Chen, X. Li, and X. Zhou, Atom-orbital qubit under nonadiabatic holonomic quantum control, Phys. Rev. A 104, L060601 (2021).
- N. Dupont, G. Chatelain, L. Gabardos, M. Arnal, J. Billy, B. Peaudecerf, D. Sugny, and D. Guéry-Odelin, Quantum state control of a Bose-Einstein condensate in an optical lattice, PRX Quantum 2, 040303 (2021).
- M.-X. Dong, W.-H. Zhang, L. Zeng, Y.-H. Ye, D.-C. Li, G.-C. Guo, D.-S. Ding, and B.-S. Shi, Highly efficient storage of 25-dimensional photonic qudit in a cold-atom-based quantum memory, Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 240801 (2023).
- T. C. Ralph and G. J. Pryde, Optical quantum computation, in Progress in Optics (Elsevier, Oxford, 2010), pp. 209–269.
- B. E. Anderson, H. Sosa-Martinez, C. A. Riofrío, I. H. Deutsch, and P. S. Jessen, Accurate and robust unitary transformations of a high-dimensional quantum system, Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 240401 (2015).
- P. Rambow and M. Tian, Reduction of circuit depth by mapping qubit-based quantum gates to a qudit basis, arXiv:2109.09902.
- P. Liu, R. Wang, J.-N. Zhang, Y. Zhang, X. Cai, H. Xu, Z. Li, J. Han, X. Li, G. Xue, W. Liu, L. You, Y. Jin, and H. Yu, Performing operations and rudimentary algorithms in a superconducting transmon qudit for and , Phys. Rev. X 13, 021028 (2023).
- S. Omanakuttan, A. Mitra, E. J. Meier, M. J. Martin, and I. H. Deutsch, Qudit entanglers using quantum optimal control, PRX Quantum 4, 040333 (2023).
- Y. Wang, Z. Hu, B. C. Sanders, and S. Kais, Qudits and high-dimensional quantum computing, Front. Phys. 8, 589504 (2020).
- M. Luo and X. Wang, Universal quantum computation with qudits, Sci. China Phys. Mech. Astron. 57, 1712 (2014).
- S. Cao, M. Bakr, G. Campanaro, S. D. Fasciati, J. Wills, D. Lall, B. Shteynas, V. Chidambaram, I. Rungger, and P. Leek, Emulating two qubits with a four-level transmon qudit for variational quantum algorithms, Quantum Sci. Technol. 9, 035003 (2024).
- D. Janković, J.-G. Hartmann, M. Ruben, and P.-A. Hervieux, Noisy qudit vs multiple qubits: Conditions on gate efficiency for enhancing fidelity, npj Quantum Inf. 10, 59 (2024).
- A. Vezvaee, N. Earnest-Noble, and K. Najafi, Quantum simulation of Fermi-Hubbard model based on transmon qudit interaction, arXiv:2402.01243.
- D. González-Cuadra, T. V. Zache, J. Carrasco, B. Kraus, and P. Zoller, Hardware efficient quantum simulation of non-Abelian gauge theories with qudits on Rydberg platforms, Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 160501 (2022).
- E. T. Campbell, Enhanced fault-tolerant quantum computing in -level systems, Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 230501 (2014).
- C. P. Koch, U. Boscain, T. Calarco, G. Dirr, S. Filipp, S. J. Glaser, R. Kosloff, S. Montangero, T. Schulte-Herbrüggen, D. Sugny et al., Quantum optimal control in quantum technologies. Strategic report on current status, visions and goals for research in Europe, EPJ Quantum Technology 9, 19 (2022).
- T. Rodzinka, E. Dionis, L. Calmels, S. Beldjoudi, A. Béguin, D. Guéry-Odelin, B. Allard, D. Sugny, and A. Gauguet, Optimal Floquet state engineering for large scale atom interferometers, Nat. Commun. 15, 10281 (2024).
- C. LeDesma, K. Mehling, J. D. Wilson, M. Nicotra, and M. Holland, Universal gate set for optical lattice based atom interferometry, Phys. Rev. Res. 7, 013246 (2025).
- K. Rojan, D. M. Reich, I. Dotsenko, J.-M. Raimond, C. P. Koch, and G. Morigi, Arbitrary-quantum-state preparation of a harmonic oscillator via optimal control, Phys. Rev. A 90, 023824 (2014).
- A. Larrouy, S. Patsch, R. Richaud, J.-M. Raimond, M. Brune, C. P. Koch, and S. Gleyzes, Fast navigation in a large Hilbert space using quantum optimal control, Phys. Rev. X 10, 021058 (2020).
- J. Li, X. Yang, X. Peng, and C.-P. Sun, Hybrid quantum-classical approach to quantum optimal control, Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 150503 (2017).
- L. M. Seifert, V. E. Colussi, M. A. Perlin, P. Gokhale, and F. T. Chong, Programming an optical lattice interferometer, Materials Today Quantum 5, 100026 (2025).
- E. Zahedinejad, J. Ghosh, and B. C. Sanders, High-fidelity single-shot Toffoli gate via quantum control, Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 200502 (2015).
- Y. Zhang, H. Wu, X. Yang, T. Xie, Y.-X. Wang, C. Liu, Q. Zhao, J. Ma, J. Li, and B. Zhang, Robust quantum control for the manipulation of solid-state spins, Phys. Rev. Appl. 19, 034068 (2023).
- A. Smith, B. E. Anderson, H. Sosa-Martinez, C. A. Riofrío, I. H. Deutsch, and P. S. Jessen, Quantum control in the Cs ground manifold using radio-frequency and microwave magnetic fields, Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 170502 (2013).
- J. P. Palao and R. Kosloff, Quantum computing by an optimal control algorithm for unitary transformations, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 188301 (2002).
- P. M. Poggi, G. De Chiara, S. Campbell, and A. Kiely, Universally robust quantum control, Phys. Rev. Lett. 132, 193801 (2024).
- R. L. Kosut, G. Bhole, and H. Rabitz, Robust quantum control: Analysis and synthesis via averaging, arXiv:2208.14193.
- C. A. Weidner, E. A. Reed, J. Monroe, B. Sheller, S. O'Neil, E. Maas, E. A. Jonckheere, F. C. Langbein, and S. Schirmer, Robust quantum control in closed and open systems: Theory and practice, Automatica 172, 111987 (2025).
- M. A. Nielsen and I. L. Chuang, Quantum Computation and Quantum Information (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2010).
- F. Arrouas, N. Ombredane, L. Gabardos, E. Dionis, N. Dupont, J. Billy, B. Peaudecerf, D. Sugny, and D. Guéry-Odelin, Floquet operator engineering for quantum state stroboscopic stabilization, Comptes Rendus. Physique 24, 173 (2023).
- A. Fortun, C. Cabrera-Gutiérrez, G. Condon, E. Michon, J. Billy, and D. Guéry-Odelin, Direct tunneling delay time measurement in an optical lattice, Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 010401 (2016).
- C. Cabrera-Gutiérrez, E. Michon, V. Brunaud, T. Kawalec, A. Fortun, M. Arnal, J. Billy, and D. Guéry-Odelin, Robust calibration of an optical-lattice depth based on a phase shift, Phys. Rev. A 97, 043617 (2018).
- E. Dionis, B. Peaudecerf, S. Guérin, D. Guéry-Odelin, and D. Sugny, Optimal control of a Bose-Einstein condensate in an optical lattice: the non-linear and two-dimensional cases, Front. Quantum Sci. Technol. 4, 1540695 (2025).
- G. Chatelain, N. Dupont, M. Arnal, V. Brunaud, J. Billy, B. Peaudecerf, P. Schlagheck, and D. Guéry-Odelin, Observation and control of quantized scattering halos, New J. Phys. 22, 123032 (2020).
- Q. Ansel, E. Dionis, F. Arrouas, B. Peaudecerf, S. Guérin, D. Guéry-Odelin, and D. Sugny, Introduction to theoretical and experimental aspects of quantum optimal control, J. Phys. B: At., Mol. Opt. Phys. 57, 133001 (2024).
- J. Werschnik and E. K. U. Gross, Quantum optimal control theory, J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 40, R175 (2007).
- S. Deffner and S. Campbell, Quantum speed limits: From Heisenberg's uncertainty principle to optimal quantum control, J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 50, 453001 (2017).
- U. Boscain, M. Sigalotti, and D. Sugny, Introduction to the Pontryagin maximum principle for quantum optimal control, PRX Quantum 2, 030203 (2021).
- E. Dionis and D. Sugny, Sequential versus concurrent gradient-based optimal algorithms for the robust control of quantum systems, J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 55, 184006 (2022).
- Although the sequential averaging method should perform better in terms of convergence rate, the concurrent averaging allows for parallelized, hence faster, computation of the controls.
- This formula can be derived from the entanglement fidelity used for quantum chanels (see Ref. [58]).
- S. Greenaway, F. Sauvage, K. E. Khosla, and F. Mintert, Efficient assessment of process fidelity, Phys. Rev. Res. 3, 033031 (2021).
- I. Bongioanni, L. Sansoni, F. Sciarrino, G. Vallone, and P. Mataloni, Experimental quantum process tomography of non-trace-preserving maps, Phys. Rev. A 82, 042307 (2010).
- The normalization factor is commonly used in the presence of losses [56, 72], which is relevant when the losses are undetected events and one wants not to take into account these events. This is not the case in our experiment, since the losses are measured as populated momentum components outside the controlled subspace.
- M. A. Nielsen, A simple formula for the average gate fidelity of a quantum dynamical operation, Phys. Lett. A 303, 249 (2002).
- N. Johnston and D. W. Kribs, Quantum gate fidelity in terms of choi matrices, J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 44, 495303 (2011).
- N. Dupont, F. Arrouas, L. Gabardos, N. Ombredane, J. Billy, B. Peaudecerf, D. Sugny, and D. Guéry-Odelin, Phase-space distributions of Bose–Einstein condensates in an optical lattice: optimal shaping and reconstruction, New J. Phys. 25, 013012 (2023).
- E. T. Holland, K. A. Wendt, K. Kravvaris, X. Wu, W. E. Ormand, J. L. DuBois, S. Quaglioni, and F. Pederiva, Optimal control for the quantum simulation of nuclear dynamics, Phys. Rev. A 101, 062307 (2020).
- C. Ye, P. Shi-Guo, Z. Chao, and L. Gui-Lu, Quantum Fourier transform and phase estimation in qudit system, Commun. Theor. Phys. 55, 790 (2011).
- M. Illa, C. E. P. Robin, and M. J. Savage, Quantum simulations of SO(5) many-fermion systems using qudits, Phys. Rev. C 108, 064306 (2023).
- S. Paesani, J. F. F. Bulmer, A. E. Jones, R. Santagati, and A. Laing, Scheme for universal high-dimensional quantum computation with linear optics, Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 230504 (2021).
- F. Poggiali, P. Cappellaro, and N. Fabbri, Optimal control for one-qubit quantum sensing, Phys. Rev. X 8, 021059 (2018).
- D. Ma, V. Gulani, N. Seiberlich, K. Liu, J. L. Sunshine, J. L. Duerk, and M. A. Griswold, Magnetic resonance fingerprinting, Nature (London) 495, 187 (2013).
- Q. Ansel, M. Tesch, S. J. Glaser, and D. Sugny, Optimizing fingerprinting experiments for parameter identification: Application to spin systems, Phys. Rev. A 96, 053419 (2017).
- C. Dankert, Efficient simulation of random quantum states and operators, arXiv:quant-ph/0512217.
- L. H. Pedersen, N. M. Møller, and K. Mølmer, Fidelity of quantum operations, Phys. Lett. A 367, 47 (2007).
- As for Eq. (10), this result is obtained from the entanglement fidelity (see Ref. [73]).
- V. O. Shkolnikov, R. Mauch, and G. Burkard, All-microwave holonomic control of an electron-nuclear two-qubit register in diamond, Phys. Rev. B 101, 155306 (2020).
- X. Wang, C.-S. Yu, and X. Yi, An alternative quantum fidelity for mixed states of qudits, Phys. Lett. A 373, 58 (2008).
- A. A. Mele, Introduction to Haar measure tools in quantum information: A beginner's tutorial, Quantum 8, 1340 (2024).