Observation of vacuum tunneling of spin-polarized electrons with the scanning tunneling microscope

Wiesendanger, R.; Güntherodt, H.‐J.; Güntherodt, G.; Gambino, R. J.; Ruf, R.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.65.247

Cited by 544 publications

(285 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Obviously, these requirements are fulfilled for spin-polarized scanning tunneling spectroscopy ͑SP-STM͒. 19,20 In a recent publication 21 we have shown that lowtemperature SP-STM enables the imaging of the antiferromagnetic superstructure of the Mn monolayer. In this article we present a survey of our experimental and theoretical work, which was conducted in order to investigate the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of a single Mn monolayer on W͑110͒.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of a Mn monolayer on W(110)

et al. 2002

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In this paper we establish a monolayer of Mn on W͑110͒ as a model system for two-dimensional itinerant antiferromagnetism. Combining scanning tunneling microscopy ͑STM͒, low-energy electron diffraction, and ab initio calculations performed with the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method we have studied the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of a Mn monolayer on W͑110͒. Our experimental results indicate that in spite of the huge tensile strain Mn grows pseudomorphically on W͑110͒ up to a thickness of three monolayers. Intermixing between the Mn overlayer and the W substrate can be excluded. Using these structural data as a starting point for the ab initio calculations of one monolayer Mn on W͑110͒ we conclude that ͑i͒ Mn is magnetic and exhibits a large magnetic moment of 3.32 B , ͑ii͒ the magnetic moments are arranged in a c(2ϫ2) antiferromagnetic order, ͑iii͒ the easy axis of the magnetization is in plane and points along the ͓11 0͔ direction, i.e., the direction along the long side of the ͑110͒ surface unit cell with a magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy of 1.3-1.5 meV, and ͑iv͒ the Mn-W interlayer distance is 2.14 Å. The calculated electronic structure of a Mn monolayer on W͑110͒ is compared with experimental scanning tunneling spectroscopy results. Several aspects are in nice agreement, but one cannot unambiguously deduce the magnetic structure from such a comparison. The proposed two-dimensional antiferromagnetic ground state of a Mn monolayer on W͑110͒ is directly verified by the use of spin-polarized STM ͑SP-STM͒ in the constant-current mode, and an in-plane easy magnetization axis could be confirmed using tips with different magnetization directions. We compare the measurements with theoretically determined SP-STM images calculated combining the Tersoff-Hamann model extended to SP-STM with the ab initio calculation, resulting in good agreement.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of a Mn monolayer on W(110)

et al. 2002

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“…The surface of Chromium has also been one of the favorite system for the development of spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy (SP-STM) [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electronic and magnetic structure of the Cr(001) surface

Habibi

Barreteau

2013

J. Phys.: Condens. Matter

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Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are carried out to study the electronic and magnetic structure of the (001) surface of chromium. Our aim is to identify and characterize the most prominent electronic surface states and make the connection with the main experimental results. We show that a low dispersive minority spin surface state at the center of the surface Brillouin zone plays a crucial role. This surface state of 1 symmetry at 0.58 eV above the Fermi level exhibits a predominantly d z 2 as well as p z orbital character. Local density of states (LDOS) analysis in the vacuum above the surface shows that the sharp feature originating from this surface state persists far away above the surface because of the slow decay rate of the p z wavefunction. Finally, by artificially lowering the surface magnetic moment m S on the outermost surface layer we find excellent agreement with experiments for m S = 1.75 µ B . In addition, we propose that some extra spin polarized scanning tunneling spectroscopy (SP-STS) experiments should be made at smaller tip-surface distances to reveal additional features originating from the majority spin d z 2 surface state.

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“…Other techniques to develop magnetic microscopes based on apertureless near-field scanning have resolution on the order of at least 100 nm. [6][7][8] Attempts to measure magnetic surface structure by means of the STM tunneling current 9 have also been made and recently the magnetic structure of an antiferromagnetic overlayer was mapped using this technique. 10 In the scheme we propose, the scattered laser light intensity is large compared to that produced in STM light emission experiments making detection far easier.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theory of a magnetic microscope with nanometer resolution

2001

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We propose a theory for a type of apertureless scanning near field microscopy that is intended to allow the measurement of magnetism on a nanometer length scale. A scanning probe, for example a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tip, is used to scan a magnetic substrate while a laser is focused on it. The electric field between the tip and substrate is enhanced in such a way that the circular polarization due to the Kerr effect, which is normally of order 0.1% is increased by up to two orders of magnitude for the case of a Ag or W tip and an Fe sample. Apart from this there is a large background of circular polarization which is non-magnetic in origin. This circular polarization is produced by light scattered from the STM tip and substrate. A detailed retarded calculation for this light-in-light-out experiment is presented. 61.16.Ch, 78.20.Ls

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Observation of vacuum tunneling of spin-polarized electrons with the scanning tunneling microscope

Cited by 544 publications

References 19 publications

Structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of a Mn monolayer on W(110)

Structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of a Mn monolayer on W(110)

Electronic and magnetic structure of the Cr(001) surface

Theory of a magnetic microscope with nanometer resolution

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