Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2008 / iii / Paper 61 / 1

A reachable set contains all states attainable from a specified initial state by admissible control inputs in the allowed times, and controllability means that every target in the declared state space is reachable from every initial state. For a closed quantum control system, distinguish pure-state controllability on state rays, density operator controllability on fixed-spectrum unitary orbits, and unitary operator controllability for entire propagators. State engineering asks for a particular state transfer; process engineering asks for an entire quantum gate, which must act correctly on every input. A closed Hamiltonian evolution preserves density-operator eigenvalues, so arbitrary mixed states of different spectra cannot be connected even by a fully operator-controllable system.

Assume piecewise-constant real controls with freely chosen duration, as in the usual finite-dimensional quantum controllability theorem. We can establish the strongest notion here: the Dynamical Lie algebra is $\mathfrak{u}(3)$, so the system has unitary operator controllability, and consequently both pure-state and fixed-spectrum density operator controllability.

To verify the hypotheses explicitly, use matrix units $E_{jk}=|j⟩⟨k|$ and put $K_0=-i{H}_0$, $X_{jk}=-i(E_{jk}+E_{kj})$, $Y_{jk}=E_{jk}-E_{kj}$. Then $K_1=-i{H}_1=d_1{X}_{12}+d_2{X}_{23}$ andSince $d_1{d}_2\ne 0$ and ${\omega }_1^2\ne {\omega }_2^2$, linear combinations of these two elements isolate $X_{12}$ and $X_{23}$. Their commutators with $K_0$ give ${\omega }_1{Y}_{12}$ and $-{\omega }_2{Y}_{23}$, respectively. Further commutators give two independent traceless diagonal generators, since $[X_{jk},Y_{jk}]=2i(E_{jj}-E_{kk})$, as well as the two $1$–$3$ generators. These eight generators span the special unitary Lie algebra $\mathfrak{su}(3)$.

Finally $\mathrm{Tr}{K}_0=i({\omega }_1+{\omega }_2)\ne 0$. Subtract its traceless component, already in the generated algebra, to obtain a nonzero multiple of $iI$. This proves the Lie algebra of the unitary group is all of $\mathfrak{u}(3)$, not merely $\mathfrak{su}(3)$. The compact-group controllability theorem then gives access to every unitary with a suitable control and some duration. This does not assert controllability at every predetermined short time or under additional bandwidth constraints. This proves that two adjacent transitions generate the qutrit unitary Lie algebra.

For $|D⟩=(|1⟩-|3⟩)/\sqrt{2}$, direct multiplication gives $H_1|D⟩=0$ and $H_0|D⟩=-\omega |D⟩$. It is therefore a dark state of a driven Hamiltonian for every real control, andStarting from this state, the reachable physical ray is a singleton, so it cannot be transferred to $|2⟩$ or any distinct ray. More generally $P_D=|D⟩⟨D|$ commutes with both generators; hence $\mathrm{Tr}(P_D\rho )$ is conserved. The system thus fails full-qutrit pure-state controllability, density operator controllability, and unitary operator controllability.

This is the appropriate full-space meaning of the PDF's phrase about all senses of controllability. It does not preclude control within a restricted invariant subspace: the bright state $|B⟩=(|1⟩+|3⟩)/\sqrt{2}$ couples to $|2⟩$ with strength $\sqrt{2}df(t)$, while the dark line is isolated. The bright and dark state reduction of a star-coupled Hamiltonian makes that invariant decomposition explicit.

Differentiate $U_I=U_0^{†}U$. The free propagator satisfies ${\dot{U}}_0^{†}=(i/\hslash )U_0^{†}{H}_0$, so the Schrödinger equation givesThus the interaction picture removes the drift and gives $\boxed{i\hslash {\dot{U}}_I=f(t)H_I(t)U_I,H_I=U_0^{†}{H}_1{U}_0}$, with $U_I(0)=I$. The transformed control Quantum Hamiltonian is time-dependent even though the original control matrix is constant.

With $\hslash =1$, the free propagator is $U_0=\mathrm{diag}(e^{i{\omega }_{1}t},1,e^{i{\omega }_{2}t})$. If $E_j$ are its Quantum Hamiltonian eigenvalues, conjugation multiplies the $jk$ matrix element of $H_1$ by $e^{i(E_j-E_k)t}$. Therefore the interaction picture Quantum Hamiltonian isOpposite off-diagonal phases are complex conjugates, as required by Hermiticity. The upper $2$–$3$ element has the opposite phase sign to the upper $1$–$2$ element because the middle level lies above both outer levels.

Write $\cos {\omega }_{1}t=(e^{i{\omega }_{1}t}+e^{-i{\omega }_{1}t})/2$ and $\Delta \omega ={\omega }_2-{\omega }_1$. Multiplication of the matrix from part (e) givesThese are exactly the constant, difference-frequency, and sum-frequency terms in the PDF, with each Hermitian pair visible. For a weak, slowly varying envelope, the terms at $2{\omega }_1$ and ${\omega }_1+{\omega }_2$ average out by the rotating-wave approximation. To discard the other transition as well, its detuning must be nonzero and large compared with the drive coupling and envelope bandwidth. Sufficient scale conditions arewhere $B$ is a characteristic envelope bandwidth; turn-on transients must satisfy the same spectral restrictions. ThenSmall coupling compared with the optical frequencies alone is not enough for this selective approximation: if $|\Delta \omega |$ is comparable with the pulse bandwidth or Rabi scale, the spectator transition remains driven. A long selective gate also accumulates a small off-resonant Stark phase of order $(A_1{d}_2{)}^2/\Delta \omega$, so that error must be acceptable or compensated. These assumptions distinguish resonant quantum control from an exact decoupling.