  We propose a new universal mechanism that makes it possible to drive an
individual atomic spin using a spin polarized scanning tunnel microscope (STM)
with an oscillating electric signal. We show that the combination of the
distance dependent exchange with the magnetic tip and the electrically driven
mechanical oscillation of the surface spins permits to control their quantum
state. Based on a combination of density functional theory and multiplet
calculations, we show that the proposed mechanism is essential to account for
the recently observed electrically driven paramagnetic spin resonance (ESR) of
an individual Fe atom on a MgO/Ag(100) surface. Our findings set the foundation
to deploy the ESR-STM quantum sensing technique to a much broader class of
systems.
