Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Spin-Polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (SPSTM)

  • Published:
MRS Online Proceedings Library Aims and scope

Abstract

We report on a novel promising technique for the investigation of magnetic structures at surfaces at high spatial resolution, ultimately down to the atomic scale. This technique is based on the observation of vacuum tunneling of spin-polarized electrons by means of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). We discuss appropriate probe tips for the spin-polarized STM (SPSTM) and describe initial experimental results. We further focus on the information obtained by SPSTM. Finally, the perspectives of SPSTM will be discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. G. G. Hembree, J. Unguris, R. J. Celotta, and D. T. Pierce, Scanning Microscopy Suppl. 1, 229 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  2. D. Rugar, H. J. Mamin, P. Guethner, S. E. Lambert, J. E. Stern, I. McFadyen, and T. Yogi, J.Appl.Phys. 68, 1169 (1990). C. Schoenenberger and S.F. Alvarado, Z.Phys. B80, 373 (1990)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. R. Wiesendanger, H.-J. Gintherodt, G. Giintherodt, R. J. Gambino, and R. Ruf, Phys.Rev.Lett. 65, 247 (1990).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. P. M. Tedrow and R. Meservey, Phys.Rev.Lett. 26, 192 (1971). P. M. Tedrow and R. Meservey, Phys.Rev. B7, 318 (1973). R. Meservey, Phys.Scr. 38, 272 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. J. S. Moodera, X. Hao, G. A. Gibson, and R. Meservey, Phys.Rev.Lett. 61, 637 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. J. C. Slonczewski, J. de Physique C8, 1629 (1988). J. C. Slonczewski, Phys.Rev. B39, 6995 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  7. D. T. Pierce and F. Meier, Phys.Rev. B13, 5484 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. D. T. Pierce, Phys.Scr. 38, 291 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. R. A. de Groot, F. M. Mueller, P. G. van Engen, and K. H. J. Buschow, Phys.Rev.Lett. 50, 2024 (1983). R.A. de Groot and K.H.J. Buschow, J.Magn.Magn.Mat. 54-57, 1377 (1986). R.A. de Groot, Physica B, (1991), in press.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. J. Kübler, Physica 127B, 257 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. J. J. Horikawa, T. Hamajima, F. Ogata, T. Kambara, and K. I. Gondaira, J.Phys. C15, 2613 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  12. A. Yanase and K. Siratori, J.Phys.Soc.Jpn. 53, 312 (1984).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. K. Schwarz, J.Phys. F16, L211 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. R. C. Albers, A. M. Boring, G. H. O. Daalderop, and F. M. Mueller, Phys.Rev. B36, 3661 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. J. Dijkstra, C. F. van Bruggen, C. Haas, and R. A. de Groot, Phys.Rev. B40, 7973 (1989).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. K. P. Kämper, W. Schmitt, G. Gintherodt, R. J. Gambino, and R. Ruf, Phys.Rev.Lett. 59,2788 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. R. Wiesendanger, D. Birgler, G. Tarrach, A. Wadas, D. Brodbeck, H.-J. Gintherodt, G. Gintherodt, R. J. Gambino, and R. Ruf, J.Vac.Sci.Technol. B, (1991), in press.

  18. A. A. Minakov and I. V. Shvets, Surf.Sci.Lett. 236, L377 (1990).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. M. Johnson and J. Clarke, J.Appl.Phys. 67, 6141 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. S. Blügel, D. Pescia, and P. H. Dederichs, Phys.Rev. B39, 1392 (1989).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. R. Wiesendanger and H.-J. Gintherodt, Surf.Sci. 235, 1 (1990).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. G. Allan, Surf.Sci. 74, 79 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. R. J. Hamers, Annu.Rev.Phys.Chem. 40, 531 (1989). R. M. Tromp, J.Phys.: Condens.Matter 1, 10211 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. P. N. First, J. A. Stroscio, R. A. Dragoset, D. T. Pierce, and R. J. Celotta, Phys.Rev.Lett. 63, 1416 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. S. S. P. Parkin, N. More, and K. P. Roche, Phys.Rev.Lett. 64, 2304 (1990).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. U. Staufer, L. Scandella, and R. Wiesendanger, Z.Phys. B77, 281 (1989). D.D. Awschalom, M.A. McCord, and G. Grinstein, Phys.Rev.Lett. 65, 783 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Prof. R.A. de Groot and Prof. G. Giintherodt for stimulating discussions on SPSTM and half-metallic ferromagnets. We also thank Dr. R.J. Gambino and Dr. R. Ruf for providing the CrOz tips as well as E. Zuberbiihler and Prof. R. Guggenheim for the SEM micrographs of SPSTM tips. Financial support from the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Kommission zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Physics, University of Basel, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland

    R. Wiesendanger, D. Buergler, G. Tarrach, I. V. Shvets & H.-J. Guentherodt

Authors
  1. R. Wiesendanger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Buergler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. Tarrach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. I. V. Shvets
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. H.-J. Guentherodt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wiesendanger, R., Buergler, D., Tarrach, G. et al. Spin-Polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (SPSTM). MRS Online Proceedings Library 231, 37–46 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-231-37

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-231-37

Search

Navigation