Work

Pontryagin maximum principle for Rydberg-blockaded state-to-state transfers: A semianalytic approach

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: We study time-optimal state-to-state control for two- and multiqubit operations motivated by neutral-atom quantum processors within the Rydberg blockade regime. Block diagonalization of the Hamiltonian simplifies the dynamics and enables the application of a semianalytic approach to the Pontryagin maximum principle (PMP) to derive optimal laser controls. We provide a general formalism for N qubits. For N = 2 qubits, we classify normal and abnormal extremals, showcasing examples where abnormal solutions are either absent or suboptimal. For normal extremals, we establish a correspondence between the laser detuning from atomic transitions and the motion of a classical particle in a quartic potential, yielding a reduced, semianalytic formulation of the control problem. Combining PMP-based insights with numerical optimization, our approach bridges analytic and computational methods for high-fidelity, time-optimal control.

Source: Physical Review Research

DOI: 10.1103/2w2v-hpst

Authors: Federico Astolfi, Sven Jandura, Guido Pupillo

Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg

Language: English

Topic: Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,625