Molecular prototypes for spin-based CNOT and SWAP quantum gates

Phys Rev Lett. 2011 Sep 9;107(11):117203. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.117203. Epub 2011 Sep 8.

Abstract

We show that a chemically engineered structural asymmetry in [Tb2] molecular clusters renders the two weakly coupled Tb3+ spin qubits magnetically inequivalent. The magnetic energy level spectrum of these molecules meets then all conditions needed to realize a universal CNOT quantum gate. A proposal to realize a SWAP gate within the same molecule is also discussed. Electronic paramagnetic resonance experiments confirm that CNOT and SWAP transitions are not forbidden.