Quantum subspace controllability implying full controllability

Abstract

In the analysis of controllability of finite dimensional quantum systems, subspace controllability refers to the situation where the underlying Hilbert space splits into the direct sum of invariant subspaces, and, on each of such invariant subspaces, it is possible to generate any arbitrary unitary operation using appropriate control functions. This is a typical situation in the presence of symmetries for the dynamics.

We investigate whether and when if subspace controllability is verified, the addition of an extra Hamiltonian to the dynamics implies full controllability of the system. Under the natural (and necessary) condition that the new Hamiltonian connects all the invariant subspaces, we show that this is always the case, except for a very specific case we shall describe. Even in this specific case, a weaker notion of controllability, controllability of the state (Pure State Controllability) is verified.