Effect of transverse anisotropy on inelastic tunneling spectroscopy of atomic-scale magnetic chains

TL;DR

This paper provides a theoretical analysis of how transverse magnetic anisotropy influences inelastic tunneling spectroscopy in atomic-scale magnetic chains, revealing new features in conductance and transition rates.

Contribution

It introduces an analytical approach to quantify the impact of transverse anisotropy on tunneling phenomena in atomic spin chains, including new predicted conductance steps.

Findings

Additional steps in differential conductance due to transverse anisotropy

Quadratic scaling of spin-flip transition rate with anisotropy ratio at low voltages

Enhanced understanding of anisotropy effects in inelastic tunneling spectroscopy

Abstract

We theoretically investigate the effect of transverse magnetic anisotropy on spin-flip assisted tunneling through atomic spin chains. Using a phenomenological approach and first-order perturbation theory, we analytically calculate the inelastic tunneling current, differential conductance and atomic spin transition rates. We predict the appearance of additional steps in the differential conductance and a pronounced increase in the spin-flip transition rate which at low voltages scale quadratically with the ratio of the transverse anisotropy energy and the sum of the longitudinal anisotropy energy and the exchange energy. Our results provide intuitive quantitative insight in the role played by transverse anisotropy in inelastic tunneling spectroscopy of atomic chains and can be observed under realistic experimental conditions.