Spin dynamics of current driven single magnetic adatoms and molecules

TL;DR

This paper models the non-equilibrium spin dynamics of single magnetic atoms and molecules under STM current, revealing how spin-polarized tips can control and probe atomic spins through inelastic tunneling.

Contribution

It introduces a rate equation model that captures spin flip assisted tunneling and demonstrates control of atomic spin orientation using spin-polarized STM tips.

Findings

Non-monotonic dI/dV curves arise from non-equilibrium spin dynamics.

Spin-polarized STM tips can switch atomic spins parallel or anti-parallel to the tip.

The model successfully describes experiments with Mn atoms, dimers, and Fe Phthalocyanine molecules.

Abstract

A scanning tunneling microscope can probe the inelastic spin excitations of a single magnetic atom in a surface via spin-flip assisted tunneling in which transport electrons exchange spin and energy with the atomic spin. If the inelastic transport time, defined as the average time elapsed between two inelastic spin flip events, is shorter than the atom spin relaxation time, the STM current can drive the spin out of equilibrium. Here we model this process using rate equations and a model Hamiltonian that describes successfully spin flip assisted tunneling experiments, including a single Mn atom, a Mn dimer and Fe Phthalocyanine molecules. When the STM current is not spin polarized, the non-equilibrium spin dynamics of the magnetic atom results in non-monotonic $dI/dV$ curves. In the case of spin polarized STM current, the spin orientation of the magnetic atom can be controlled parallel or anti-parallel to the magnetic moment of the tip. Thus, spin polarized STM tips can be used both to probe and to control the magnetic moment of a single atom.