Quantum Control and Quantum Computing

Dear Colleagues,

Controlling quantum systems in minimum time or with maximum fidelity is of paramount importance for quantum computing and more generally quantum technologies. Various quantum control methods, like adiabatic passages, dynamical decoupling, shortcuts to adiabaticity, optimal control and machine learning, have become an integral part of modern quantum technologies, overcoming obstacles from systematic errors or environmental noise in intrinsically fragile hardware. Using appropriate quantum control methods, the coherent control of quantum dynamics is used to arrive at specific designs for quantum computing devices, with superconductors, trapped ions, ultracold atoms, and semiconductors.

This relationship between quantum control and quantum computing becomes deeper in that the hybrid quantum–classical algorithms in circuit-based approaches are used to solve quantum control tasks (e.g., state preparation and combinatorial optimization problems), featuring machine learning optimization. On the other hand, the powerful tool of quantum control provides the richer ansatz for variational quantum algorithms, including quantum approximate optimization algorithms and quantum annealing, being greatly desired in industrial applications of quantum computing. Ultimately, the quantum-control-enhanced techniques are expected to offer an important complement to algorithmic error-mitigation approaches such as quantum error correction, allowing us to reach quantum advantage in today's noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era.

This Special Issue aims to consolidate and provide an open-access platform for publishing the latest results by researchers who are conducting research towards the above goals. Contributions on other topics related to quantum control and quantum computing as well as review articles summarizing up-to-date achievements in the field are also very welcome.

Dr. Xi Chen
Guest Editor

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