  In this paper initial experiments towards constructing simple quantum gates
in a solid state material are presented. Instead of using specially tailored
materials, the aim is to select a subset of randomly distributed ions in the
material, which have the interaction necessary to control each other and
therefore can be used to do quantum logic operations. The experimental results
demonstrate that part of an inhomogeneously broadened absorption line can be
selected as a qubit and that a subset of ions in the material can control the
resonance frequency of other ions. This opens the way for the construction of
quantum gates in rare-earth-ion doped crystals.
