Universal simulation of Markovian quantum dynamics - art. no. 062302

Although the conditions for performing arbitrary unitary operations to simu late the dynamics of a closed quantum system are well understood, the same is not true of the more general class of quantum operations (also known as superoperators) corresponding to the dynamics of open quantum systems. We p ropose a framework for the generation of Markovian quantum dynamics and stu dy the resources needed for universality. For the case of a single qubit, w e show that a single nonunitary process is necessary and sufficient to gene rate all unital Markovian quantum dynamics. whereas a set of processes para metrized by one continuous parameter is needed in general. We also obtain p reliminary results for the unital case in higher dimensions.