AVS 51st International Symposium
    Nanometer-scale Science and Technology Monday Sessions
       Session NS-MoA

Invited Paper NS-MoA1
Spin-Polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Achievements and Perspectives

Monday, November 15, 2004, 2:00 pm, Room 213D

Session: Magnetic Imaging and Spectroscopy
Presenter: M. Bode, University of Hamburg, Germany
Authors: M. Bode, University of Hamburg, Germany
K. Von Bergmann, University of Hamburg, Germany
O. Pietzsch, University of Hamburg, Germany
A. Kubetzka, University of Hamburg, Germany
R. Wiesendanger, University of Hamburg, Germany
Correspondent: Click to Email
Within the past decade spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy (SP-STM) was developed to a mature technique which not only allows for ultra-high spatial resolution studies of magnetic nanostructures, but also enables the direct correation with the sample`s topography and spin-resolved electronic structure. By reviewing the main achievements of SP-STM, which include the observation of size-dependent reorientation transitions @footnote 1@, the impact of strong external fields on magnetic nanowires @footnote 2@, atomic resolution of antiferromagnetic monolayers @footnote 3@, and the direct observation of thermal switching events of indivitual superparamagnetic entities @footnote 4@, we will discuss the strength and limitations of the technique. Possible future developments will be sketched and evaluated. @FootnoteText@ @footnote 1@ A. Kubetzka et al., Phys. Rev. B 63, 140407 (2001). @footnote 2@ O. Pietzsch et al., Science 292, 2053 (2001). @footnote 3@ S. Heinze et al., Science 288, 1805 (2000). @footnote 4@ M. Bode et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 067201 (2004).