Atomic-scale spin sensing with a single molecule at the apex of a scanning tunneling microscope

Abstract

Single molecules sense spin Imaging surface magnetism, and, in particular, spin excitations of adsorbed molecules or films, is challenging. Verlhac et al. demonstrate spin-sensing capability by using the magnetic exchange interaction between a surface sample and the spin-excited states of a nickelocene molecule attached to a scanning tunneling microscope tip. The spatial dependence of the exchange field at the atomic scale enabled imaging of magnetic corrugation with atomic-scale lateral resolution for iron atoms and small islands of cobalt atoms absorbed on nonmagnetic copper surfaces. Science , this issue p. 623