A shortcut tour of quantum control methods for modern quantum technologies

Quantum control methods, like rapid adiabatic passage, stimulated Raman adiabatic passage, shortcuts to adiabaticity and optimal control, have become an integral part of modern quantum technologies, for example quantum computation and sensing, where they are exploited in order to find the optimal pulse sequences which drive quantum systems to the desired target state in minimum time or with maximum fidelity, overcoming decoherence and dissipation. In this perspective, we use the basic example of adiabatic population inversion in a two-level system in order to present these methods and review the latest developments in the field, while we touch upon the emerging method of reinforcement learning. Copyright (C) 2021 EPLA