Abstract
We demonstrate rotational excitation spectroscopy with the scanning tunneling microscope for physisorbed and its isotopes HD and . The observed excitation energies are very close to the gas phase values and show the expected scaling with the moment of inertia. Since these energies are characteristic for the molecular nuclear spin states we are able to identify the para and ortho species of hydrogen and deuterium, respectively. We thereby demonstrate nuclear spin sensitivity with unprecedented spatial resolution.
- Received 26 July 2013
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.175303
© 2013 American Physical Society
Synopsis
Molecular Rotations Now Seen on Surfaces
Published 24 October 2013
Scanning tunneling microscopy peels back the curtain on the rotational energy levels of adsorbed molecules.
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