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Updated: Dec 21, 2025
All-electronic Nanosecond-resolved Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Facilitating the Investigation of Single Dopant Charge Dynamics
Published on: January 19, 2018
Minimally invasive spin sensing with scanning tunneling microscopy.
Luigi Malavolti1, Gregory McMurtrie1, Steffen Rolf-Pissarczyk2
1Institute for Functional Matter and Quantum Technologies, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany. sebastian.loth@fmq.uni-stuttgart.de luigi.malavolti@fmq.uni-stuttgart.de and Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, 22761 Hamburg, Germany and Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
This study introduces a remote detection method to minimize disturbance during scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements of atomic-scale magnetic properties. This technique significantly reduces probe-induced perturbations, enabling more accurate observation of delicate spin states.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Mechanics
Background:
- Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is crucial for atomic-scale magnetic property analysis.
- Direct STM measurements can perturb delicate atomic-scale spin systems, limiting accuracy.
- Minimizing invasiveness is essential for observing unperturbed magnetic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate a remote detection scheme for STM to reduce measurement invasiveness.
- To quantify the reduction in perturbative effects compared to direct STM measurements.
- To enable minimally invasive observation of fragile spin states in few-atom magnets.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a remote detection scheme employing a weakly coupled sensor spin.
- Performed comparative analysis of direct and remote STM measurements.
- Applied standard differential conductance measurements with dynamic decoupling techniques.
Main Results:
- Tunneling electrons in direct STM measurements perturb investigated objects even at low currents (3 pA).
- Remote sensing with a sensor spin significantly reduces the probability of inducing perturbations.
- Achieved up to a 100-fold reduction in perturbative effects compared to direct STM measurements.
Conclusions:
- Remote detection schemes drastically reduce STM invasiveness on few-atom spin systems.
- The developed method allows for minimally invasive measurements of fragile spin states.
- This technique enhances the ability to study unperturbed magnetic properties at the atomic scale.
