Universal control of nuclear spins via anisotropic hyperfine interactions

Abstract

We propose a method for completely controlling a nuclear spin subsystem using only microwave irradiation of resolved anisotropic hyperfine interactions with a single electron spin. This paradigm of control has important applications for spin based solid-state quantum information processing. In particular we argue that indirect addressing of the nuclear spins via an electron spin acting as a spin actuator allows for nuclear spin quantum logic gates whose operational times are significantly faster than either gates based on rf fields resonant with nuclear spin flips or nuclear-nuclear dipolar interactions. We demonstrate experimental aspects of this method with one electron and one nuclear spin of a single crystal of irradiated malonic acid.