Hyperfine interaction of individual atoms on a surface

Taking advantage of nuclear spins for electronic structure analysis, magnetic resonance imaging, and quantum devices hinges on knowledge and control of the surrounding atomic-scale environment. We measured and manipulated the hyperfine interaction of individual iron and titanium atoms placed on a ma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2018-10, Vol.362 (6412), p.336-339
Main Authors: Willke, Philip, Bae, Yujeong, Yang, Kai, Lado, Jose L, Ferrón, Alejandro, Choi, Taeyoung, Ardavan, Arzhang, Fernández-Rossier, Joaquín, Heinrich, Andreas J, Lutz, Christopher P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atomic properties
Binding sites
Electron paramagnetic resonance
Electron spin
Electron spin resonance
Electronic structure
Hyperfine structure
Information processing
Iron
Magnesium
Magnesium oxide
Magnetic resonance imaging
Microscopy
Nuclear spin
Nuclei (nuclear physics)
Organic chemistry
Resonance
Scanning tunneling microscopy
Spin resonance
Structural analysis
Superconductors (materials)
Titanium
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Summary:Taking advantage of nuclear spins for electronic structure analysis, magnetic resonance imaging, and quantum devices hinges on knowledge and control of the surrounding atomic-scale environment. We measured and manipulated the hyperfine interaction of individual iron and titanium atoms placed on a magnesium oxide surface by using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy in combination with single-atom electron spin resonance. Using atom manipulation to move single atoms, we found that the hyperfine interaction strongly depended on the binding configuration of the atom. We could extract atom- and position-dependent information about the electronic ground state, the state mixing with neighboring atoms, and properties of the nuclear spin. Thus, the hyperfine spectrum becomes a powerful probe of the chemical environment of individual atoms and nanostructures.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.aat7047