Exchange Based Noise Spectroscopy of a Single Precessing Spin with STM

TL;DR

This paper proposes a noise spectroscopy method based on exchange coupling in ESR-STM to detect single-spin precession, revealing how tunneling electron spin polarization influences the spectral signal and its signal-to-noise ratio.

Contribution

It introduces a novel exchange-based noise spectroscopy technique for single-spin detection using ESR-STM, analyzing the spectral features and noise characteristics.

Findings

Signal-to-noise ratio of 2-4 matches experimental reports

Current fluctuation magnitude increases with DC current and magnetic field

Back action effects influence the linewidth of the spin precession signal

Abstract

ESR-STM is an emerging technique which is capable of detecting the precession of a single spin. We discuss the mechanism of ESR-STM based on a direct exchange coupling between the tunneling electrons and the local precessing spin S. We claim that since the number of tunneling electrons in a single precessing period is small (~20) one may expect a net temporary polarization within this period that will couple via exchange interaction to the localized spin. This coupling will randomly modulate the tunneling barrier and create a dispersion in the tunneling current which is a product of a Larmor frequency component due to the precession of the single spin and the dispersion of the spin of the tunneling electrons. This noise component is spread over the whole frequency range for random white noise spin polarization of electrons. In opposite case the power spectrum of the spins of the tunneling electrons has a peak at zero frequency an elevated noise in the current at omega_L will appear. We discuss the possible source of this spin polarization. We find that for relevant values of parameters signal to noise ratio in the spectral characteristic is 2-4 and is comparable to the reported signal to noise ratio. The magnitude of the current fluctuation is a relatively weak increaing function of the DC current and the magnetic field. The linewidth produced by the back action effect of tunneling electrons on the precessing spin is also discussed.