How to Cross an Energy Barrier at Zero Kelvin without Tunneling Effect

This Letter deals with the broad class of magnetic systems having a single or collective spin S with an energy barrier, such as rare-earth elements and their compounds, single molecule magnets with uniaxial anisotropy, and more generally any other anisotropic quantum system made of single or multiple objects with discrete energy levels. Till now, the reversal of the magnetization of such systems at zero kelvin required making use of quantum tunneling with a significant transverse field or transverse anisotropy term, at resonance. Here, we show that another very simple method exists. It simply consists in the application of a particular sequence of electromagnetic radiations in the ranges of optical or microwave frequencies, depending on the characteristics of the system (spin and anisotropy values for magnetic systems). This produces oscillations of the Rabi type that pass above the barrier, thus extending these oscillations between the two energy wells with mixtures of all the 2S + 1 states. In addition to its basic character, this approach opens up new directions of research in quantum information with possible breakthroughs in the current use of multiple quantum bits.

Automated summary

This Letter explores the characteristics of magnetic systems with a single or collective spin S and energy barriers, and presents a simple method for magnetization reversal through the application of electromagnetic radiations in the optical or microwave frequency ranges. This approach extends the oscillations between the energy wells and opens up new research directions in quantum information.