Arbitrary quantum-state preparation of a harmonic oscillator via optimal control

Understand

The efficient initialization of a quantum system is a prerequisite for quantum technological applications.

• Here we show that several classes of quantum states of a harmonic oscillator can be efficiently prepared by means of a Jaynes-Cummings interaction with a single two-level system.
• This is achieved by suitably tailoring external fields which drive the dipole and/or the oscillator.
• The time-dependent dynamics that leads to the target state is identified by means of Optimal Control Theory (OCT) based on Krotov's method.