Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy Study of Fe(001) Using Nonmagnetic W- and Fe-Evaporated Probe Tips

Abstract

The differential conductivity (dI/dV) spectra of Fe(001) film, together with the topographic image, were measured at room temperature using ferromagnetic Fe and non-magnetic W probe tips. A narrow peak was observed at 0.3 V in the dI/dV spectrum using a W tip, which coincides with the surface state in the minority spin band predicted by a theoretical calculation. On the other hand, we found a pronounced peak at 0.7 V in the tunneling spectra using a Fe-evaporated probe tip with an intense and broad feature, which cannot be explained by the calculation. The enhancement of spin-polarized tunneling in an empty sample state might occur in the case of a Fe tip.

Embedded Co nanostructures on Au(001) substrate studied by scanning tunneling microscopy

“…Both spectra in Fig. 3e show two distinct peaks at À0.54 and +0.27 V [18,19], respectively. There is no significant difference between the two spectra.…”