Quantum logic in coarse grained control of wavepackets

Abstract

We describe ‘coarse-grained’ control of wavepackets with finite resolution in phase space and show how this control can be approached as quantum information processing. To this end, we introduce the wavepacket analogues of qubits, designed to represent the information recorded within a wavepacket, and show how they can be addressed within a single wavepacket. The control is implemented both for non-dispersive wavepacket propagation using linear optical elements, illustrated for the classical waves, and for the dispersive evolution using fractional wavepacket revivals and AC Stark shifts as control tools, illustrated for the revivals of molecular alignment.

Acknowledgments

This work has benefited from fruitful and stimulating discussions with R. Bhardwaj, K. Lee, A. Stolow, P. Corkum, P. Knight and W. Schleich. This work was partially supported by NSERC discovery grant to MI, NSERC postdoctoral fellowship to ES, NSERC graduate fellowship to MS and NRC graduate student supplement programme to MS.

Notes

Present address: Chemistry Department, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z1, Canada

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Misha Yu. Ivanov

Present address: Chemistry Department, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z1, Canada