Manipulating the Spin Orientation of Co Atoms Using Monatomic Cu Chains.

Harnessing the spin of single atoms is at the heart of quantum information nanotechnology based on magnetic concepts. By attaching single Co atoms to monatomic Cu chains, we demonstrate the ability to control the spin orientation by the atomic environment. Due to spin-orbit coupling (SOC), the spin is tilted by ≈58° from the surface normal toward the chain as evidenced by inelastic tunneling spectroscopy.

Apparent tunneling barrier height and local work function of atomic arrays.

Spatially resolved measurements of the apparent tunneling barrier height Φ in scanning tunneling microscopy have been used to estimate variations of the local work function Φ of surface structures. We experimentally show that Φ can fail as a measure of Φ. The discrepancies are attributed to a kinetic-energy contribution to Φ.