Irreversible dynamics as a tool to increase robustness in quantum control

Manipulation of atomic, molecular and nano-scale systems which exhibit quantum dynamics is an important branch of modern science with applications ranging from optimal laser driven pop-ulation transfer in atoms out to laser assisted control of chemical reactions. A common problem is to transfer a given initial system state (pure or mixed) into a desired final state. Coherent control of closed, i.e. isolated from the environment, quantum systems produces unitary evolutions which are reversible and hence different initial states generally require different optimal coherent controls. Incoherent control producing an irreversible dynamics can be used to overcome this circumstance. In this talk we will discuss how irreversible quantum dynamics driven by incoherent quantum control can be used to steer various initial states into the same desired final state providing a control tool robust to variations of the initial state.