Spin Excitations in a 4f3d Heterodimer on MgO

A. Singha, F. Donati, F. D. Natterer, C. Wäckerlin, S. Stavrić, Z. S. Popović, Ž. Šljivančanin, F. Patthey, and H. Brune
Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 257202 – Published 18 December 2018
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Abstract

We report on the magnetic properties of HoCo dimers as a model system for the smallest intermetallic compound of a lanthanide and a transition metal atom. The dimers are adsorbed on ultrathin MgO(100) films grown on Ag(100). New for 4f elements, we detect inelastic excitations with scanning tunneling spectroscopy and prove their magnetic origin by applying an external magnetic field. In combination with density functional theory and spin Hamiltonian analysis, we determine the magnetic level distribution, as well as sign and magnitude of the exchange interaction between the two atoms. In contrast to typical 4f3d bulk compounds, we find ferromagnetic coupling in the dimer.

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  • Received 8 July 2018
  • Revised 18 October 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.257202

© 2018 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied PhysicsAtomic, Molecular & Optical

Authors & Affiliations

A. Singha1,2,3, F. Donati1,2,3, F. D. Natterer2,4, C. Wäckerlin2,5, S. Stavrić6, Z. S. Popović6, Ž. Šljivančanin6,7, F. Patthey2, and H. Brune2

  • 1Center for Quantum Nanoscience, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
  • 2Institute of Physics, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Station 3, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • 3Department of Physics, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
  • 4Physik-Institut, Universität Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
  • 5Nanoscale Materials Science, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
  • 6Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, P.O. Box 522, RS-11001 Belgrade, Serbia
  • 7Texas A&M University at Qatar, P.O. Box 23874, Education City, Doha, Qatar

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Issue

Vol. 121, Iss. 25 — 21 December 2018

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