We derive algebraic bounds on achievable rates for quantum state transfer and entanglement generation in general quantum systems. We apply these bounds to graph-based models of local quantum spin systems to obtain speed limits on these tasks. A comparison to numerical optimal control results for spin chains suggests that unexplored regions of the dynamical landscape may support enhanced performance of key quantum-information-processing tasks.

• Received 19 December 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.95.042314