Spin-Dependent Quantum Interference Within a Single Magnetic Nanostructure

Quantum interference is a coherent quantum phenomenon that takes place in confined geometries. Using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy, we found that quantum interference of electrons causes spatial modulation of spin polarization within a single magnetic nanostructure. We observed change...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2010-02, Vol.327 (5967), p.843-846
Main Authors: Oka, H, Ignatiev, P.A, Wedekind, S, Rodary, G, Niebergall, L, Stepanyuk, V.S, Sander, D, Kirschner, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adatoms
Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties
Electric potential
Electron states and collective excitations in thin films, multilayers, quantum wells, mesoscopic and nanoscale systems
Electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films and low-dimensional structures
Electronic transport in multilayers, nanoscale materials and structures
Electrons
Energy
Exact sciences and technology
Magnetism
Magnetization
Nanostructured materials
Nanostructures
Physics
Quantum theory
Spatial distribution
Standing waves
Thin films and multilayers
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Quantum interference is a coherent quantum phenomenon that takes place in confined geometries. Using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy, we found that quantum interference of electrons causes spatial modulation of spin polarization within a single magnetic nanostructure. We observed changes in both the sign and magnitude of the spin polarization on a subnanometer scale. A comparison of our experimental results with ab initio calculations shows that at a given energy, the modulation of the spin polarization can be ascribed to the difference between the spatially modulated local density of states of the majority spin and the nonmodulated minority spin contribution.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1183224