Detection of exchange interaction in STM measurements through Fanolike interference effects

TL;DR

This paper investigates Fano-like interference effects in STM measurements of nanoscale systems, revealing how second order tunneling causes energy-dependent transmission suppression observable in conductance measurements.

Contribution

It demonstrates the role of second order tunneling contributions in causing Fano-like interference effects in STM measurements of two-level nanoscale systems.

Findings

Interference effects lead to suppressed transmission at specific energies.

Suppressed transmission is detectable in differential conductance measurements.

Second order tunneling contributions are key to understanding these effects.

Abstract

We address Fano-like interference effects in scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements of nanoscale systems, e.g. two-level systems. Common for these systems is that second order tunneling contributions give rise to interference effects that cause suppressed transmission through the system for certain energies. The suppressed transmission is measurable either in the differential conductance or in the bias voltage derivative thereof.