Resolving Complex Atomic-Scale Spin Structures by Spin-Polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

D. Wortmann; S. Heinze; Ph. Kurz; G. Bihlmayer; S. Blügel

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.4132

Resolving Complex Atomic-Scale Spin Structures by Spin-Polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

D. Wortmann, S. Heinze, Ph. Kurz, G. Bihlmayer, and S. Blügel

Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 4132 – Published 30 April 2001

Abstract

The spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscope (SP-STM) operated in the constant current mode is proposed as a powerful tool to investigate complex atomic-scale magnetic structures of otherwise chemically equivalent atoms. The potential of this approach is demonstrated by successfully resolving the magnetic structure of Cr/Ag(111), which is predicted on the basis of ab initio vector spin-density calculations to be a coplanar noncollinear periodic 120° Néel structure. Different operating modes of the SP-STM are discussed on the basis of the model of Tersoff and Hamann.

Received 7 August 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.4132

Authors & Affiliations

D. Wortmann¹, S. Heinze^1,2, Ph. Kurz¹, G. Bihlmayer¹, and S. Blügel^1,*

¹Institut für Festkörperforschung, Forschungszentrum Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
²Institute of Applied Physics and Microstructure Research Center, University of Hamburg, Jungiusstrasse 11, D-20355 Hamburg, Germany