Abstract
A simple expression for the conductance steps in inelastic electron tunneling from spin excitations in a single magnetic atom adsorbed on a nonmagnetic metal surface is derived. The inelastic coupling between the tunneling electron and the spin is via the exchange coupling and is treated in an impulsive approximation using the Tersoff-Hamann approximation for the tunneling between the tip and the sample.
- Received 3 April 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.050801
©2009 American Physical Society