Mechanism for nuclear and electron spin excitation by radio frequency current

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Recent radio frequency scanning tunneling spectroscopy (rf-STS) experiments have demonstrated nuclear and electron spin excitations up to ±12ℏ in a single molecular spin quantum dot (qudot). Despite the profound experimental evidence, the observed independence of the well-established dipole selection rules is not described by existing theory of magnetic resonance -- pointing to a new excitation mechanism. Here we solve the puzzle of the underlying mechanism by presenting all relevant mechanistic steps. At the heart of the mechanism, periodic transient charging and electric polarization due to the rf-modulated tunneling process cause a periodic asymmetric deformation of the qudot, enabling spin transitions via spin-phonon-like coupling. The mechanism has general relevance for a broad variety of different spin qudots exhibiting internal mechanical degrees of freedom (organic molecules, doped semiconductor qudots, nanocrystals, etc.).