Magnetism at the nanoscale: Engineering spin and correlations with an atomically precise probe

DIPC Seminars

Speaker

Dr. Markus Ternes, Max Planck Institute for solid state research, Stuttgart, Germany

When

2017/07/24
14:00

Place

Donostia International Physics Center

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In recent years inelastic spin-flip spectroscopy using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopes has been a very successful tool for studying not only individual spins but also complexly coupled systems. The spin-bearing molecules can be stabilized on surfaces and in junctions with desirable properties that can be adjusted by external stimuli. When these systems interact with the electrons of the supporting electrodes correlated many-particle states can emerge, making them ideal prototypical quantum systems. In this presentation I will show how effective _S_ = 1 and _S_ = 1/2 model systems of cobalt hydrates (CoHx) on a _h_ -BN/Rh(111) substrate [1] in conjunction with model Hamiltonians [2, 3] can be used to explore this interesting quantum world. In detail I will discuss the manipulation of the total spin of the cobalt complexes by using a H-functionalized scanning probe tip [4]. When the additional hydrogen ligand is brought close to the CoH, switching between a correlated _S_ = 1/2 Kondo state and a _S_ = 1 state with magnetic anisotropy is observed. By simultaneously tracking the exchange force and conductance during the spin change we explore in detail the transition mechanism. Furthermore, I will outline how the controlled coupling of individual spin systems can lead not only to an energy shift of the eigenstates reminiscent of an externally applied field, but also to a bias asymmetry in the differential conductance due to spin-spin correlations with the environment [5]. These correlations introduce a measurable transport asymmetry wholly unrelated to static spin polarization and external magnetic fields and might in future be used as a method to probe correlated electron materials. [1] P. Jacobson _et al_., _Nature Communications_ **6** , 8536 (2015). [2] M. Ternes, _New J. Phys._ **17** , 063016 (2015). [3] M. Ternes, _Prog. Surf. Sci._ **92** , 83 (2017). [4] P. Jacobson _et al_., _Science Advances_ **3** , e1602060 (2017). [5] M. Muenks, _et al_., _Nature Communications_ **8** , 14119 (2017).