Three-Dimensional Mapping of Single-Atom Magnetic Anisotropy

Magnetic anisotropy plays a key role in the magnetic stability and spin-related quantum phenomena of surface adatoms. It manifests as angular variations of the atom’s magnetic properties. We measure the spin excitations of individual Fe atoms on a copper nitride surface with inelastic electron tunne...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nano letters 2015-03, Vol.15 (3), p.1938-1942
Main Authors: Yan, Shichao, Choi, Deung-Jang, Burgess, Jacob A. J, Rolf-Pissarczyk, Steffen, Loth, Sebastian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anisotropy
Excitation spectra
Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods
Magnetic anisotropy
Magnetic Fields
Magnetic properties
Materials Testing - methods
Mathematical analysis
Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry
Metal Nanoparticles - ultrastructure
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning - methods
Radiometry - methods
Spectroscopy
Spectrum Analysis - methods
Spin Labels
Three dimensional
Vectors (mathematics)
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Summary:Magnetic anisotropy plays a key role in the magnetic stability and spin-related quantum phenomena of surface adatoms. It manifests as angular variations of the atom’s magnetic properties. We measure the spin excitations of individual Fe atoms on a copper nitride surface with inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy. Using a three-axis vector magnet we rotate the magnetic field and map out the resulting variations of the spin excitations. We quantitatively determine the three-dimensional distribution of the magnetic anisotropy of single Fe atoms by fitting the spin excitation spectra with a spin Hamiltonian. This experiment demonstrates the feasibility of fully mapping the vector magnetic properties of individual spins and characterizing complex three-dimensional magnetic systems.
ISSN:1530-6984
1530-6992
DOI:10.1021/nl504779p