Optimal Control of Two Level Quantum

Systems : Application to Ammonia Maser

Shashank Y. Gothankar and Dr. N. M. Singh

Abstract—In this paper, we study the manipulation of two

level quantum systems and its application to ammonia maser.
Here we have considered the two level quantum system model of
ammonia maser describing population transfer driven by
constant and time varying electric field. Due to bilinearity in the
control and the states, Lie-algebraic techniques can be applied
for constructing the state transition matrix of the system. Here
Wei-Norman technique is used for the construction. We consider
the problem of driving the evolution operator to desired state,
while minimizing an energy type cost in case of ammonia maser.
The desired input then drives the state of the system from the
given initial state to the given final state in a finite time. The
result has been verified using MATLAB simulation for state
transition matrix..

Keywords—Quantum control design, Open loop control, Two Figure1. Physical Model of Two Base States for the Ammonia Molecule

We call these two states as |1 and |2. These states are
level quantum systems, Wei-Norman technique.

I. INTRODUCTION
Two level quantum systems are simplest models of quantum
dynamical models. When a quantum mechanical system has a
doublet of energy levels close to each other and far away from
the rest of the energy levels, it can be approximated as two
energy level system. If external perturbation, control, is weak
(small in magnitude), the energy levels are not changed
significantly by the perturbations and so it is easy to study the
dynamics of two level system. We can apply this approach to
ammonia maser. Ammonia maser is a device for generating
electromagnetic waves, whose operation is based on the
properties of the ammonia molecule.
The ammonia molecule has many states, but we are
considering it as a two level system. Two states of this system
are its specific states of rotation or translation. If the ammonia
molecule is considered to be rotating about an axis passing
through the nitrogen atom and perpendicular to the plane of
the hydrogen atoms, as shown in fig.1, there are still two
possible conditions as the nitrogen may be on one side of the
plane of hydrogen atom or on the other side of it.
Shashank Y. Gothankar is a student of M.Tech Electrical Engineering
(Control Systems) with the Department of Electrical Engineering, VJTI,
Mumbai, India (gthnkr@gmail.com).
Prof. Dr. N. M. Singh is Professor with the Department of Electrical
Engineering, VJTI, Mumbai, India.
taken as the base states for the behavior of our ammonia
molecule.
If ammonia molecule is in either of the two states of
definite energy and we disturb it at a frequency ω such that
ћω = difference in two energy levels.
where, ћ is reduced Plank’s constant i.e., ћ = h/(2π), and ‘h’ is
Plank’s constant, then system may take transition from lower
state to the higher state or if it is in upper state then it may
jump to lower state and emit photon. To induce such transition
we need to apply external control i.e., electric field, because
these states are sensitive to an electric field. The operation of
the ammonia maser is given in the texts [1, Ch. 9].
The paper is organized as follows. In Section II, operation of
ammonia maser is described in brief. Formulation of optimal
control problem is described in brief in Section III. In Section
IV, we will derive the mathematical model for a two-level
quantum system of ammonia molecule. Our model will be a
system varying on the Lie group SU(2) of special unitary
matrices of dimension two. Hence, we will start with the
standard finite state Schrödinger equation of two energy levels
and transform it into a control theoretic form. A four
dimensional real variable differential equation model is then
obtained from the complex valued two level model. The use of
Wei-Norman technique for the construction of state transition
matrix is given in Section V. In Section VI, the state transfer is
analyzed by giving time dependent control input i.e.,
sinusoidal electric field of small magnitude. The MATLAB
simulation results are discussed in Section VII. In MATLAB III. FORMULATION OF OPTIMAL CONTROL PROBLEM

vector | in a Hilbert space . The evolution of |

we have used the ramp signal as our control input to verify our The state of a quantum system at time t is described by a
results about state transition of ammonia molecule. The Wei-
Norman technique is described briefly in Appendix. is determined by Schrödinger equation

II. THE AMMONIA MASER   | (1)

where  is the Hamiltonian operator,  :   , associated

The word MASER is an acronym for Microwave

with the system. The solution |, with initial condition

Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The first

It gave pulses of photons of   1.26 cm. its output power |0, can be written as |  |0, where  is
maser was built by C.H. Townes in 1953 using ammonia gas.

was very small (about 10 W). Hence, masers were the first the evolution operator or propagator, that satisfies the equation

   |

to be discovered using gaseous media.
In masers, amplification of microwave takes place by
stimulated emission of radiation. Ammonia gas contains (2)
molecules in two different states of energy. When the number

distinguished states, |1, |2, in the Hilbert space , such that

of molecules in the higher energy states exceeds the number of A two level quantum system possesses a pair of

the state of the system at time t, |, can be expressed as a

molecules in the lower energy state population inversion is

linear combination of |1 and |2, namely

said to take place. A higher energy state molecule can be
stimulated to emit a photon and come down to the lower

|   |1   |2.

energy state.
(3)

Here,   and   are complex valued and satisfy

| |  | |  1 (4)

for each t. Here |1 and |2 are eigenstates of Hermitian linear
operator. The modeling of quantum system is explained in the

sum of internal Hamiltonian,  , and external Hamiltonian,

texts [2, Ch.1, Ch.2]. Here Hamiltonian can be described as

 .
Figure2. Production of Ammonia Maser

     
The production of maser is illustrated in fig.(2). Ammonia
gas is emitted from a source through a narrow aperture. The (5)
electrostatic focusser or separator provides a non-uniform
electrostatic field. When the ammonia molecules pass through where,

   ∑#
!$ ! "! 
the focuser the lower energy state molecules are pulled
outwards while the higher energy state molecules are pushed (6)

Hence, Schrödinger equation for | becomes

towards the axis.
The higher energy state molecules enter a cavity, whereas

    ∑#  
the lower energy state molecules are diverted. A feeble signal

!$ ! "! |

of a frequency equal to the transition frequency between the
two states is led into the cavity at one end. It stimulates some (7)

and the corresponding equation for %   & ,  ( in

)
molecules in the higher energy state to emit exactly similar
photons and come down to the lower energy state. The inner
walls of cavity are made highly reflecting. Therefore, the (3) is given by

*%  
+  ∑# +  
inducing and stimulated photons suffer multiple reflections

!$ ! "! |*%

and produce more and more exactly similar photons. Thus a
(8)
cascade process is built up. Finally, an amplified maser pulse

where  +! , , = 0, 1, …, - is the Hermitian matrix

emerges through the output guide. The process is then
+ is
representation of the operator ! in the given basis. Here 
repeated and pulses of exactly similar photons emerge from
   
diagonal because |1 and |2 are eigenstates of  . The
the cavity at regular intervals.

equation of evolution matrix operator | associated with

There are wide applications of masers, mainly in
communication, radio astronomy, microwave radiometry.
Thus, maser amplifiers are used for long distance transmission (8) is given by

   
+  ∑# + 
!$ ! "! |

and to detect very weak radio waves emitted by distant
planets. (9)
 IV. MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF AMMONIA MASER of Schrödinger state equations. Hence, converting (3) into new
basis we get

|  ; |<  ;; |<<

Now, we will consider the ammonia maser problem which
resembles the equation (9).
(13)

where, |< and |<< are the eigen vectors of . The

To change the state of ammonia molecule from one to
another we need to apply time dependent control input. Here

corresponding equation for %   &; , ;; ( in (13) is

)
time dependent control input will be our time dependent

in fig.(1). State |1 is the state of ammonia molecule in which

electric field. The two base states to be considered are shown
given by

state, and state |2 is the state in which nitrogen atom is below *%  
+  ∑# + 
!$ ! "! |*%

the nitrogen atom is above the plane of hydrogen atoms, up
(14)

transition of states from state |1 to state |2. Here, our diagonalized  matrix is
the plane of hydrogen atoms, down state. We have to make

In this system with two base states, any state | of the
+  60  2

0
7
two states, i.e., there is a certain amplitude   to be in one 0 0 1 2
system can always be described as a linear combination of the

state and   be in the other. We can write the states as in

(15)

equation (3). and external Hamiltonian matrix is given by

|   |1   |2. +   80 1

 9 "
1 0
(16)
Here    .1|/ and    .2|/.
We are taking our time dependent control input, ", small as
compared to 2. So the predicted solution for (14) is
Making use of the symmetry of the two states of the
ammonia molecule, we set

  0  ",   0 1 ",     12. ;   =; > ?@ABCD/ (17)

Here 0 is the energy of stationary states and 2 is the some and

;;   =;; > ?@ACD/

small energy in different states i.e., if ammonia molecule is in
up state then there is small amount of energy in down state and (18)
if ammonia molecule is in down state then there is small
amount of energy in up state. We have the equation which also here,

0; 1 0;;  0  2 1 0 1 2  22  F 

resembles equation (8) is

|   0 12 1 0 | 
(19)

 3  4  56  78 9 ": 6   7 where, F is resonant frequency. Now from (14), (17), (18)
|  12 0 0 11 |  
and (19) we get

 = ;  "> ?GAD =;;

Hence our Hamiltonian matrix becomes

0  " 12
(20)

6  7
12 0 1 "
(10) and

Hence, our internal Hamiltonian,  , and external Hamiltonian  =;;  "> ?GAD =;
matrices,  , are
(21)

0 12
From (20) and (21) we come to know that with weak time

  6  7 those near F . Hence, by scaling  =1 and from (20), (21) we

12 0
dependent electric field the only significant frequencies are
(11)
get dynamical equations of the form

1 0 = ;  1"=;;
   8 9 "
0 11
(22)
(12)
and

to make  diagonal matrix i.e., to make it  + , we need to =;;  1"H =;

Here, the Schrödinger state equations are in coupled form. So
(23)

we found out the eigen values of  and its eigen vectors. The
decouple the state equations. To decouple these state equations

eigen vectors of  are nothing but the decoupled state vectors

By using the real valued decompositions

=;  I  I (24)
 =;;  IJ  IK (25) "  `S   SJ  *ab  2S  (34)

"  "   "  (26) Hence, the state variables are calculated by using the state
transition matrix equation is given as
we get state variable representation as

I IK IJ I  > ]cDdc . > ]_Dd_ . > ]^Dd^ I0

I 1IJ IK " 
(35)

L MN I 1I O 6" 7

IJ 
1I 1I
(27)
IK
VI. STATE TRANSFER
Now, let’s analyze the state transfer by giving a sinusoidal
electric field as a control input of small magnitude. Hence, let

"  2efcos F

Equation (27) can be written as

I  " P  " P  I
(36)

where, e is electric dipole moment, f is maximum

(28)

where, amplitude of electric field and F is the operating frequency of

0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0
electric field. So, from (26) and (36) we get

P  N 0 0 11 0O , P  N 0 0 0 1O
"   2ef cosF , "   0
0 1 0 0 11 0 0 0
11 0 0 0 0 11 0 0
(29) (37)

Solving (22) and (23) using (36) at resonance i.e., F  F , we

Now, the equation (4) can be written as get,

∑K!$ I!  1 (30) =;  g cosef  h sin ef (38)

Here we can see that P and P together with their Lie product =;;  Qh cosef 1 g sinefR
2PJ  QP , P R  P P 1 P P form Lie algebra.
(39)

Hence, from (24) and (38), from (25) and (39) we obtain

I  g cosef  h sin ef

V. WEI-NORMAN TECHNIQUE
Due to bilinearity in control and the states Lie algebraic (40)

I  0
techniques can be applied for constructing the state transition
matrix of the system. Now the Wei-Norman technique is used (41)

IJ  0
in the construction according to [3]. The exponential
representation of the transition matrix includes three base (42)

IK  Qh cosef 1 g sinefR
functions, two of which serve as the parameter functions,
which can be chosen freely. In this framework the initial and (43)
final states can be defined corresponding to the two levels of

state =; . Then
the original system model. This approach has been discussed Let’s assume that initially the ammonia molecule was in

A differential relation between the S? ’s and the controls

in detail in [4].

"  and "  in the form of matrix equation as shown in [4] I 0  I 0  1
is given below

1 0 sin2S  S "

and hence,

N0 cos2S  1 cos2S  sin2S  O YS Z  3" 4 IJ 0  IK 0  0

0 sin2S  1 cos2S  cos2S  SJ 0
(31)

So we get g  1 and h  0.
From equation (31) the parameterization obtained for S Now, if the state transition time is i then for the final state

I i  I i  0

and the controls is given by we have

S  tan 81 cos2S  9
 ]^
 ]_
(32)

IJ i  IK i  1

and
"  S  SJ sin2S  (33)
So we get, APPENDIX

cosefi  0
We explain, in this appendix, the Wei-Norman theory in
(44) brief.
Consider the linear operator differential equation of the first
This gives us the state transition time order

i  j/2ef (45) k  k ; k0  1 (46)

Hence, after transition time i the molecule will certainly where  and k are both time-dependent linear operators in a

state transition matrix equation by computing S , S and SJ . if the operator  can be expressed as
make transition from one state to the other. We can find out Banach space or a finite dimensional space. According to [3],

Their values at time i are computed as shown in [4]. Due to

  ∑n
m$ gm om
final values of S and SJ .
trigonometric functions there are also other possibilities for the (47)

where gm ’s are scalar functions of time and om are the

VII. MATLAB SIMULATION RESULT generators of an N-dimensional solvable Lie algebra or the

k can be expressed as
Using MATLAB Simulink to model (27), the simulation real split 3-dimensional simple Lie algebra, then the operator

Schrödinger equation is shown in fig.(3). We have given " 

result of the model, i.e., the derivation of controlled

as a ramp input signal and "  is set to zero to avoid wave k  ∏n
m$ >
]q D rq
(48)

Here the Sm ’s are time-dependent scalar functions to be

interference. It shows that the ammonia maser acts as self

determined. To find the Sm ’s, we simply substitute (47) and

oscillator. The change in frequency shows the change in
energy level i.e., state transition of ammonia molecule.
(48) into (46) and compare the two sides term by term to
obtain a set of coupled nonlinear differential equations

Sm   ∑n
#$ sm# g#  , Sm 0  0 (49)

where sm# are nonlinear functions of Sm ’s. Thus, we have

reduced the linear operator differential equation (46) to a set of
coupled nonlinear differential equations of scalar functions
(49).

generators om ’s form the Heisenberg-Weyl Lie algebra defined

For illustration, we consider the special case that the

by the commutation relations

Qo , o R  oJ , Qo , oJ R  Qo , oJ R  0 (50)

Then,  is given by

  g o  g o  gJ oJ

Figure3. Simulation Result for State change of the Ammonia Molecule
(51)

According to the Wei-Norman theorem, k can be

VIII. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Here we studied a two level population transfer of ammonia expressed as

k  > ]cDrc . > ]_Dr_ . > ]^Dr^

molecule, which is described by a 4-dimensional ordinary
differential system, bilinear in two scalar controls. Without
(52)
using more advanced differential geometric considerations we
have formulated the state transition matrix. Wei-Norman
By differentiating (52) and comparing it with (51) we get a set
technique is used for the formulation of state transition matrix.
of three couple equations
Also we have seen that the ammonia maser works as a self
S   g 
oscillator in well controlled manner. Ammonia maser can be
(53)
used as an amplifier so future study will be on investigating its
S   g 
possible applications in physics and quantum computing.
(54)

SJ   S S   gJ  (55)

These set of equations can be solved by

S   t g u vu
D
(56)

S   t g u vu
D
(57)

SJ   t QgJ u 1 g uS uR vu

D
(58)

As a result, the operator k is thus determined.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to thank Dr. N. M. Singh, Professor in
Electrical Engineering Department of Veermata Jijabai
Technological Institute, Mumbai, for his guidance and support
throughout the paper. Also I would like to thank my friends
and staff in Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Mumbai,
for their valuable help and constant support.

REFERENCES
[1] R. P. Feynman, Volume III of The Feynman Lectures on Physics,
Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass, 1965.
[2] D. D’Alessandro, Introduction to Quantum Control and Dynamics,
Taylor & Francis Group.
[3] Wei, J., Nrman, E.: On global representation of the solutions of linear
differential equations as product of exponentials. In: Proc. AMS, vol.
15, pp. 327-334 (1964).
[4] Nihatilä, M., Wei-Norman Technique for Control Design of Bilinear
ODE Systems with Application to Quantum Control, J. Lévine & P.
Müllhaupt (Eds.): Adv. in Theory of Control, Signals, LNCIS 407, pp.
189-199.