So they started experimenting with a crystal that had some erbium in it.

所以他们开始试验一种含有铒的晶体。

This is designated Ytterby Mine, a historical landmark for the discovery of four periodic elements: yttrium, terbium, erbium, and ytterbium.

这被命名为 Ytterby 矿，它是种周期性元素：、铽、铒和镱的历碑。

Erbium is a rare earth metal, and a crystal with erbium ions in it can work on a wavelength that matches fiber optic cables, but it can only store quantum information for short bursts.

铒是一种稀土金属，其中含有铒离子的晶体可以在与光纤电缆相匹配的波长上工作， 但它只能存储短脉冲的量子信息。