Transitions in a time-dependent quantum system can be suppressed by adding a steering term to the Hamiltonian. We use this technique to improve on the standard quantum adiabatic algorithm. The new method is applied to a one-dimensional Ising model in a random field. For strong disorder, steering significantly enhances the probability for the system to remain in the ground state. The new technique opens up a broad avenue for the improvement of the quantum adiabatic algorithm.

Prof. Robert Joynt obtained his Bachelor Degree from University of Toronto (Canada) in 1976 and PhD degree from the University of Maryland, College Park (USA) in 1982. After that he conducted his postdoctoral researches in Cavendish Laboratory (Cambridge) and Institut für Theoretische Physik (ETH-Zürich) in 1982 and 1984 respectively. He joined University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1986, and promoted to Full Professor of Physics Department in 1992. He then became the Department Chair from 2011-2014. Prof. Joynt is the Fellow of American Physical Society. His main research interests are Quantum Computing, Superconductivity, Quantum Hall Effect, Neutron Stars, etc.