PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

When scaling the quantum slopes, veer for the straight path

2013-10-25
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Morgan Kelly
mgnkelly@princeton.edu
609-258-5729
Princeton University
When scaling the quantum slopes, veer for the straight path

Like any task, there is an easy and a hard way to control atoms and molecules as quantum systems, which are driven by tailored radiation fields. More efficient methods for manipulating quantum systems could help scientists realize the next generation of technology by harnessing atoms and molecules to create small but incredibly powerful devices such as molecular electronics or quantum computers.

Of course, controlling quantum systems is as painstaking as it sounds, and requires scientists to discover the ideal radiation field that leads to the desired response from the system. Scientists know that reaching that state of quantum nirvana can be a long and expensive slog, but Princeton University researchers have found that the process might be more straightforward than previously thought.

The researchers report in the journal Physical Review A that quantum-control "landscapes" — the path of a system's response from the initial field to the final desired field — appears to be unexpectedly simple. Although still a mountain of a task, finding a good control radiation field turns out to be very much like climbing a mountain, and scientists need only choose the right path. Like a hiker, a scientist can take a difficult, twisting path that requires frequent stops to evaluate which step to take next. Or, as the Princeton researchers show, they can opt for a straighter trail that cuts directly to the summit.

The researchers observe in their paper that these fast tracks toward the desired control field actually exist, and are scattered all over the landscape. They provide an algorithm that scientists can use to identify the starting point of the straight path to their desired quantum field.

The existence of nearly straight paths to reach the best quantum control was surprising because the landscapes were assumed to be serpentine, explained first author Arun Nanduri, who received his bachelor's degree in physics from Princeton in 2013 and is working in the laboratory of Herschel Rabitz, Princeton's Charles Phelps Smyth '16 *17 Professor of Chemistry.

"We found that not only can you always climb to the top, but you can climb along a simple path to the top," Nanduri said. "If we could consistently identify where these paths are located, a scientist could efficiently climb the landscape. Looking around for the next good step along an unknown path takes great effort. However, starting along a straight path requires you to look around once, and you can keep walking forward with your eyes closed, as it were."

Following a straighter path could be a far more efficient way of achieving control of atoms and molecules for a host of applications, including manipulating chemical reactions and operating quantum computers, Nanduri said. The source of much scientific excitement, quantum computers would use "qubits" that can be entangled to potentially give them enormous storage and computational capacities far beyond the capabilities of today's digital computers.

If the Princeton research helps scientists quickly and easily find the control fields they need, it could also allow them to carry out improved measurements of quantum systems and design new ones, Nanduri said.

"We don't know if our discovery will directly lead to futuristic quantum devices, but this finding should spur renewed research," Nanduri said. "If straight paths to good quantum control solutions can be routinely found, it would be remarkable."



INFORMATION:

The paper, "Exploring quantum control landscape structure," was published in the journal Physical Review A. The work was funded by the Program in Plasma Science and Technology at Princeton University, the Army Research Office, and the U.S. Department of Energy.



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Ultrasound device combined with clot-buster safe for stroke, say UTHealth researchers

2013-10-25
Ultrasound device combined with clot-buster safe for stroke, say UTHealth researchers HOUSTON – (Oct. 24, 2013) – A study led by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) showed that a ...

NASA sees rainfall in Tropical Storm Francisco

2013-10-25
NASA sees rainfall in Tropical Storm Francisco

Does the timing of surgery to treat traumatic spinal cord injury affect outcomes?

2013-10-25
Does the timing of surgery to treat traumatic spinal cord injury affect outcomes? New Rochelle, NY, October 24, 2013—Performing surgery to take pressure off the spine after a traumatic injury soon after the event could prevent or ...

Reading this in a meeting? Women are twice as likely as men to be offended by smartphone use

2013-10-25
Reading this in a meeting? Women are twice as likely as men to be offended by smartphone use First empirical study of business etiquette and smartphones shows how mobile manners vary by gender, age and region &#8211 with important implications ...

Gold nanoparticles give an edge in recycling CO2

2013-10-25
Gold nanoparticles give an edge in recycling CO2 PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — By tuning gold nanoparticles to just the right size, researchers from Brown University have developed a catalyst that selectively converts carbon dioxide (CO2) to carbon monoxide ...

Aboriginal hunting practice increases animal populations

2013-10-25
Aboriginal hunting practice increases animal populations Burning approach mixing practical philosophy and knowledge leads to near doubling of lizards and improves habitat

Children with brain injuries nearly twice as likely to suffer from depression

2013-10-25
Children with brain injuries nearly twice as likely to suffer from depression Findings may help to identify, treat children at risk of depression ORLANDO, Fla. —Adults with head injuries are known to be at high risk for depression, and yet little research ...

Portable vision screening devices accurately identify vision problems in young children

2013-10-25
Portable vision screening devices accurately identify vision problems in young children New guidelines and technical advances likely to increase amblyopia screening in pediatric practice ORLANDO, Fla. —Portable screening devices allow pediatricians to successfully ...

Sleep apnea is associated with subclinical myocardial injury

2013-10-25
Sleep apnea is associated with subclinical myocardial injury Obstructive sleep apnea is known to be associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. Now a new study indicates that OSA is associated with subclinical myocardial injury, as indicated by ...

USC researcher reveals how to better master stem cells' fate

2013-10-24
USC researcher reveals how to better master stem cells' fate USC scientist Qi-Long Ying and a team of researchers have long been searching for biotech's version of the fountain of youth — ways to encourage embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and epiblast stem ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Transnational electoral participation of undocumented Mexican immigrants in the US

A new method to build more energy-efficient memory devices for a sustainable data future

Freely levitating rotor spins out ultraprecise sensors for classical and quantum physics

‘Chinese lantern’ structure shifts into more than a dozen shapes for various applications

Towards light-controlled electronic components

Tiny architects, titanic climate impact: scientists call for October 10 to become International Coccolithophore Day

Stress sensitivity makes suicidal thoughts more extreme and persistent among the university population

Lessons from Ascension’s shark troubles could help boost conservation

Fire provides long-lasting benefits to bird populations in Sierra Nevada National Parks

Menstrual cycle affects women’s reaction time but not as much as being active

Housing associations more effective than government in supporting unemployed in deprived areas

Biochar helps composting go greener by cutting greenhouse gas emissions

Ulrich named president-elect of the AACI

Multitasking makes you more likely to fall for phishing emails

Researchers solve model that can improve sustainable design, groundwater management, nuclear waste storage, and more

Parched soils can spark hot drought a nation away

Uncovering new physics in metals manufacturing

Sped-up evolution may help bacteria take hold in gut microbiome, UCLA-led research team finds

The dose-dependent effects of dissolved biochar on C. elegans: Insights into the physiological and transcriptomic responses

New research reveals genetic link to most common pediatric bone cancer

Research conducted during 2024 eclipse reveals importance of light on bird behavior

Why does female fertility decline so fast? The key is the ovary

Total solar eclipse triggers dawn behavior in birds

Europe’s largest bats hunt and eat migrating birds on the wing, high in the sky

China’s emerging AI regulation could foster an open and safe future for AI

The secret to naked mole-rat’s longevity: Enhanced DNA repair

Acidic tumor environment promotes survival and growth of cancer cells

New biosensor tracks plants’ immune hormone in real time

New study finds gaps in REDD+ forest carbon offsets with most overstating climate impacts

Mystery solved: How Europe’s largest bat catches and eats passerines mid-air

[Press-News.org] When scaling the quantum slopes, veer for the straight path