Optimal solutions to quantum annealing using two independent control functions

Abstract: We investigate the quantum computing paradigm consisted of obtaining a target state that encodes the solution of a certain computational task by evolving the system with a combination of the problem-Hamiltonian and the driving-Hamiltonian. We analyze this paradigm in the light of Optimal Control Theory considering each Hamiltonian modulated by an independent control function. In the case of short evolution times and bounded controls, we analytically demonstrate that an optimal solution consists of both controls tuned at their upper bound for the whole evolution time. This optimal solution is appealing because of its simplicity and experimental feasibility. To numerically solve the control problem, we propose the use of a quantum optimal control technique adapted to limit the amplitude of the controls. As an application, we consider a teleportation protocol and compare the fidelity of the teleported state obtained for the two-control functions with the usual single-control function scheme and with the quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA). We also investigate the energetic cost and the robustness against systematic errors in the teleportation protocol, considering different time evolution schemes. We show that the scheme with two-control functions yields a higher fidelity than the other schemes for the same evolution time.