biostudies-literatureLiu ZNational Basic Research Program of ChinaBeijing Academy of Quantum Information SciencesNational Natural Science Foundation of China1557-1563https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8288692biostudies-literatureUnknown7(10)Quantum information processing based on magnetic ions has potential for applications as the ions can be modified in their electronic properties and assembled by a variety of chemical methods. For these systems to achieve individual spin addressability and high energy efficiency, we exploited the electric field as a tool to manipulate the quantum behaviours of the rare-earth ion which has strong spin-orbit coupling. A Ce:YAG single crystal was employed with considerations to the dynamics and the symmetry requirements. The Stark effect of the Ce³⁺ ion was observed and measured. When demonstrated as a quantum phase gate, the electric field manipulation exhibited high efficiency which allowed up to 57 π/2 operations before decoherence with optimized field direction. It was also utilized to carry out quantum bang-bang control, as a method of dynamic decoupling, and the refined Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm. Our experiments highlighted rare-earth ions as potentially applicable qubits because they offer enhanced spin-electric coupling which enables high-efficiency quantum manipulation.National science reviewElectric field manipulation enhanced by strong spin-orbit coupling: promoting rare-earth ions as qubits.PMC828869211805024Y18G2321822301118473012017YFA02049032018YFA0306003Wang ZMLiu ZFang YHWang YXQin SXJiang SDGao SfalseElectric field manipulation enhanced by strong spin-orbit coupling: promoting rare-earth ions as qubits.Quantum information processing based on magnetic ions has potential for applications as the ions can be modified in their electronic properties and assembled by a variety of chemical methods. For these systems to achieve individual spin addressability and high energy efficiency, we exploited the electric field as a tool to manipulate the quantum behaviours of the rare-earth ion which has strong spin-orbit coupling. A Ce:YAG single crystal was employed with considerations to the dynamics and the symmetry requirements. The Stark effect of the Ce³⁺ ion was observed and measured. When demonstrated as a quantum phase gate, the electric field manipulation exhibited high efficiency which allowed up to 57 π/2 operations before decoherence with optimized field direction. It was also utilized to carry out quantum bang-bang control, as a method of dynamic decoupling, and the refined Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm. Our experiments highlighted rare-earth ions as potentially applicable qubits because they offer enhanced spin-electric coupling which enables high-efficiency quantum manipulation.2020-01-01T00:00:00Z2020 Oct2025-04-19T20:41:21.788Z2025-04-19T20:41:21.788ZS-EPMC82886923469148810.1093/nsr/nwaa148