Subspace controllability of spin- 1/2 chains with symmetries

We develop a technique to prove simultaneous subspace controllability on multiple invariant subspaces, which specifically enables us study the controllability properties of spin systems that are not amenable to standard controllability arguments based on energy level connectivity graphs or simple induction arguments on the length of the chain. The technique is applied to establish simultaneous subspace controllability for Heisenberg spin chains subject to limited local controls. This model is theoretically important and the controllability result shows that a single control can be sufficient for complete controllability of an exponentially large subspace and universal quantum computation in the exponentially large subspace. The controllability results are extended to prove subspace controllability in the presence of control field leakage and discuss minimal control resources required to achieve controllability over the entire spin chain space.