Alternating Projections Methods for Discrete-time Stabilization of Quantum States

Abstract: We study sequences (both cyclic and randomized) of idempotent completely-positive trace-preserving quantum maps, and show how they asymptotically converge to the intersection of their fixed point sets via alternating projection methods. We characterize the robustness features of the protocol against randomization and provide basic bounds on its convergence speed. The general results are then specialized to stabilizing en- tangled states in finite-dimensional multipartite quantum systems subject to a resource constraint, a problem of key interest for quantum information applications. We conclude by suggesting further developments, including techniques to enlarge the set of stabilizable states and ensure efficient, finite-time preparation.