Probing the spin orientation in Fe chain on Ir(001)-(5×1) using non-contact atomic force microscopy

抄録

Sensing atomic-scale magnets through mechanical interaction offers the possibility of controlling new magnetic devices with low electrical current and high-density data storage [1, 2]. However, it is extremely challenging to study such weak interaction [3]. Here, we probe the z-component of the spin in finite Fe chains on a Ir surface by the spin-polarized STM and the non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) at 4.5 K under external magnetic fields. We show NC-AFM images and tip-sample distance dependence of magnetic signals measured with spin-polarized tips. Our finding reveals the mechanical spin interactions between a tip and a sample at the atomic scale.

References:

[1] P. Rabl et al., Nat. Phys. 6, 602-608. (2010).

[2] M. Menzel et al., Phys. Rev. Lett, 108, 197204 (2012).

[3] U. Kaiser et al., Nature 446, 522-525 (2007).