Efficient coherent control by sequences of pulses of finite duration

Reliable long-time storage of arbitrary quantum states is a key element of quantum information processing. In order to dynamically decouple a spin or quantum bit from a dephasing environment by non-instantaneous pulses, we introduce an optimized sequence of N control π pulses that are realistic in the sense that they have a finite duration and a finite amplitude. We show that optimized dynamical decoupling is still applicable and that higher-order decoupling can be reached if shaped pulses are implemented. The sequence suppresses decoherence up to the order , with T being the total duration of the sequence and τ mx the maximum length of the pulses. The exponent depends on the shape of the pulse. Based on existing experiments, a concrete setup for the verification of the properties of the advocated sequence is proposed.