Regensburg 2013 – scientific programme
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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik
O 31: Surface and Interface Magnetism I (jointly with MA)
O 31.9: Talk
Tuesday, March 12, 2013, 12:30–12:45, H33
Controlling spin stability by a vector magnetic field and atom manipulation — •Deung-Jang Choi1,2, Shichao Yan1,2, and Sebastian Loth1,2 — 1Max Planck Research Group-Dynamics of Nanoelectronic Systems, Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Hamburg — 2Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart
A time-resolving sub-Kelvin scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is used to manipulate atoms and build nanostructures such as atomic chains or arrays. We show that not only static but also dynamic properties of nanostructures can be controlled. We place magnetic atoms into close proximity of existing nanostructures. This modifies available spin relaxation pathways. The resulting variations in the spin relaxation times and spin polarization can be monitored by an all-electronic pump-probe technique [1]. In this way even weak spin coupling can be detected. A vector magnetic field provides additional control over the mixing of spin states without changing the atomic configuration of a nanostructure. For example, we compare the angular dependence of the spin anisotropy for individual Fe atoms and Fe in few-atom arrays. The combination of vector magnetic fields with atom manipulation provides a great deal of control over the behavior of atomic spins making it possible to study spin dynamics at atomic dimensions.
[1] S. Loth, M. Etzkorn, C. P. Lutz, D. M. Eigler, A. J. Heinrich, Science 329, 1628 (2010).