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Electrically tunable quantum interference of atomic spins on surfaces

Author

Listed:
  • Hao Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jing Chen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Peng Fan

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yelko Castillo

    (Avenida Mestre José Veiga)

  • Alejandro Ferrón

    (Universidad Nacional del Nordeste)

  • Lili Jiang

    (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zilong Wu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Shijie Li

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Hong-Jun Gao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Heng Fan

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Joaquín Fernández-Rossier

    (Avenida Mestre José Veiga)

  • Kai Yang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Controlling quantum interference near avoided energy-level crossings is crucial for fast and reliable coherent manipulation in quantum information processing. However, achieving tunable quantum interference in atomically-precise engineered structures remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate electrical control of quantum interference using atomic spins on an insulating film in a scanning tunneling microscope. Using bias voltages applied across the tunnel junction, we modulate the atomically-confined magnetic interaction between the probe tip and surface atoms with a strong electric field, and drive the spin state rapidly through the energy-level anticrossing. This all-electrical manipulation allows us to achieve Landau-Zener-Stückelberg-Majorana (LZSM) interferometry on both single spins and pairs of interacting spins. The LZSM pattern exhibits multiphoton resonances, and its asymmetry suggests that the spin dynamics is influenced by spin-transfer torque of tunneling electrons. Multi-level LZSM spectra measured on coupled spins with tunable interactions show distinct interference patterns depending on their many-body energy landscapes. These results open new avenues for all-electrical quantum manipulation in spin-based quantum processors in the strongly driven regime.

Suggested Citation

  • Hao Wang & Jing Chen & Peng Fan & Yelko Castillo & Alejandro Ferrón & Lili Jiang & Zilong Wu & Shijie Li & Hong-Jun Gao & Heng Fan & Joaquín Fernández-Rossier & Kai Yang, 2025. "Electrically tunable quantum interference of atomic spins on surfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-64022-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64022-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shantanu Mishra & Gonçalo Catarina & Fupeng Wu & Ricardo Ortiz & David Jacob & Kristjan Eimre & Ji Ma & Carlo A. Pignedoli & Xinliang Feng & Pascal Ruffieux & Joaquín Fernández-Rossier & Roman Fasel, 2021. "Observation of fractional edge excitations in nanographene spin chains," Nature, Nature, vol. 598(7880), pages 287-292, October.
    2. Gang Cao & Hai-Ou Li & Tao Tu & Li Wang & Cheng Zhou & Ming Xiao & Guang-Can Guo & Hong-Wen Jiang & Guo-Ping Guo, 2013. "Ultrafast universal quantum control of a quantum-dot charge qubit using Landau–Zener–Stückelberg interference," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-7, June.
    3. Jian Li & M.P. Silveri & K.S. Kumar & J.-M. Pirkkalainen & A. Vepsäläinen & W.C. Chien & J. Tuorila & M.A. Sillanpää & P.J. Hakonen & E.V. Thuneberg & G.S. Paraoanu, 2013. "Motional averaging in a superconducting qubit," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-6, June.
    4. Shantanu Mishra & Gonçalo Catarina & Fupeng Wu & Ricardo Ortiz & David Jacob & Kristjan Eimre & Ji Ma & Carlo A. Pignedoli & Xinliang Feng & Pascal Ruffieux & Joaquín Fernández-Rossier & Roman Fasel, 2021. "Publisher Correction: Observation of fractional edge excitations in nanographene spin chains," Nature, Nature, vol. 599(7885), pages 6-6, November.
    5. Piotr Kot & Maneesha Ismail & Robert Drost & Janis Siebrecht & Haonan Huang & Christian R. Ast, 2023. "Electric control of spin transitions at the atomic scale," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-7, December.
    6. Gang Cao & Hai-Ou Li & Tao Tu & Li Wang & Cheng Zhou & Ming Xiao & Guang-Can Guo & Hong-Wen Jiang & Guo-Ping Guo, 2013. "Correction: Corrigendum: Ultrafast universal quantum control of a quantum-dot charge qubit using Landau–Zener–Stückelberg interference," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-1, December.
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