Creating Decoherence-Free Subspaces Using Strong and Fast Pulses

Abstract

A decoherence-free subspace (DFS) isolates quantum information from deleterious environmental interactions. We give explicit sequences of strong and fast [“bang-bang” (BB)] pulses that create the conditions allowing for the existence of DFSs that support scalable, universal quantum computation. One such example is the creation of the conditions for collective decoherence, wherein all system particles are coupled in an identical manner to their environment. The BB pulses needed for this are generated using only the Heisenberg exchange interaction. In conjunction with previous results, this shows that Heisenberg exchange is by itself an enabler of universal fault-tolerant quantum computation on DFSs.