Spin-orbit driven electrical manipulation of the zero-field splitting in high-spin centers in solids

In recent years, spin-orbit coupling has attracted significant attention due to its promising applications in spintronic devices. In solid-state spin qubits, the spin-orbit coupling allows for the lifting of spin degeneracy in the absence of an external magnetic field. Such spin-orbit driven zero-field splitting can be directly tuned by external electric fields. Here we present a reliable theoretical framework to address this phenomenon in extended periodic systems. We unravel the microscopic origin of the zero-field splitting in light-element semiconductors and propose its implications for coherent electrical control. The reported theoretical results open up promising possibilities for a rational design and tuning of high-spin centers suitable for quantum information processing.