Chattering phenomenon in quantum optimal control

Abstract

We present a quantum optimal control problem which exhibits a chattering phenomenon. This is the first instance of such a process in quantum control. Using the Pontryagin Maximum Principle and a general procedure due to V F Borisov and M I Zelikin, we characterize the local optimal synthesis, which is then globalized by a suitable numerical algorithm. We illustrate the importance of detecting chattering phenomena because of their impact on the efficiency of numerical optimization procedures.

Keywords

• quantum control
• optimal control theory
• numerical optimization procedures
• quantum dynamics