Surface-mediated spin dynamics probed by optical-pump-probe scanning tunneling microscopy.

In current materials science and technologies, surface effects on carrier and spin dynamics in functional materials and devices are of great importance. In this paper, we present the surface-sensitive probing of electron spin dynamics, performed by optical-pump-probe scanning tunneling microscopy (OPP-STM). Time-resolved spin lifetime information on a manganese (Mn)-deposited GaAs(110) surface was successfully obtained for the first time.