Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026
06:45
Force Spectroscopy of Single Protein Molecules Using an Atomic Force Microscope
Published on: February 28, 2019
9.4K
Tuning the Exchange Bias on a Single Atom from 1 mT to 10 T
Kai Yang1, William Paul1, Fabian D Natterer1,2
1IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, California 95120, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|July 9, 2019
Summary
Researchers precisely controlled the exchange bias of single atoms on surfaces, tuning magnetic interactions over four orders of magnitude. This breakthrough enables versatile control of quantum spin states for advanced spintronic devices.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Mechanics
Background:
- Nanoscale spintronic devices require localized control of individual atomic magnetic moments.
- The exchange interaction is crucial for spin-related phenomena like magnetic ordering and frustration at the nanoscale.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate precise control over the exchange bias experienced by a single atom on a surface.
- To explore the tunability of exchange interaction energy over a wide range.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a scanning tunneling microscope with a magnetic tip to adjust the separation from a surface atom.
- Combined inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy and electron spin resonance to analyze energy scales.
Main Results:
- Achieved continuous tunability of the exchange interaction from milli-electron volts (m eV) to micro-electron volts (µ eV).
- Demonstrated control of exchange bias over an energy range spanning four orders of magnitude.
- Showcased that a time-varying exchange interaction can generate a localized AC magnetic field to drive surface spins.
Conclusions:
- Precise static and dynamic control of atomic-scale exchange interactions offers a new method for tuning quantum states in coupled-spin systems.
- This control has potential applications in tuning quantum state properties and enabling local spin doping.
Related Concept Videos
01:31Confirmation Biases
8.1K
The confirmation bias is the tendency to focus on information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore information that is inconsistent with our expectations. For example, if you think that your professor is not very nice, you notice all of the instances of rude behavior exhibited by the professor while ignoring the countless pleasant interactions he is involved in on a daily basis. Have you ever fallen prey to the confirmation bias, either as the source or target of such bias?
8.1K
01:12Hindsight Biases
4.2K
Hindsight bias leads you to believe that the event you just experienced was predictable, even though it really wasn’t. In other words, you knew all along that things would turn out the way they did. Can you relate this to the phrase "Hindsight is 20/20" now?
4.2K
01:33Atomic Structure
207.6K
Overview
207.6K
02:44Atomic Orbitals
43.4K
An atomic orbital represents the three-dimensional regions in an atom where an electron has the highest probability to reside. The radial distribution function indicates the total probability of finding an electron within the thin shell at a distance r from the nucleus. The atomic orbitals have distinct shapes which are determined by l, the angular momentum quantum number. The orbitals are often drawn with a boundary surface, enclosing densest regions of the cloud.
43.4K
01:52Atomic Mass
69.7K
Atoms — and the protons, neutrons, and electrons that compose them — are extremely small. For example, a carbon atom weighs less than 2 × 10−23 g. When describing the properties of tiny objects such as atoms, we use appropriately small units of measure, such as the atomic mass unit (amu). The amu was originally defined based on hydrogen, the lightest element, then later in terms of oxygen. Since 1961, it has been defined with regard to the most abundant isotope of carbon, atoms of which...
69.7K
01:22Bias
7.3K
Bias refers to any tendency that prevents a question from being considered unprejudiced. In research, bias occurs when one outcome or answer is selected or encouraged over others in sampling or testing. Bias can occur during any research phase, including study design, data collection, analysis, and publication.
In statistics, a sampling bias is created when a sample is collected from a population, and some members of the population are not as likely to be chosen as others (remember, each member...
In statistics, a sampling bias is created when a sample is collected from a population, and some members of the population are not as likely to be chosen as others (remember, each member...
7.3K