Abstract
Atomic spin structures assembled by means of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) provide valuable insight into the understanding of atomic-scale magnetism. Among the major challenges are the detection and subsequent read-out of ultrafast spin dynamics due to a dichotomy in travel speed of these dynamics and the probe tip. Here, we present a device composed of individual Fe atoms that allows for remote detection of spin dynamics. We have characterized the device and used it to detect the presence of spin waves originating from an excitation induced by the STM tip several nanometres away; this may be extended to much longer distances. The device contains a memory element that can be consulted seconds after detection, similar in functionality to e.g. a single photon detector. We performed statistical analysis of the responsiveness to remote spin excitations and corroborated the results using basic calculations of the free evolution of coupled quantum spins.
Highlights
Atomic spin structures assembled by means of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) provide valuable insight into the understanding of atomic-scale magnetism
Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM)-based atom manipulation allows for the assembly of artificial spin structures[6,7]: a technique that has enabled studies of collective magnetism ranging from the emergence of magnetic bistability[8,9,10] to spin waves[11], phase transitions[12,13] and topologically protected edge states[14,15,16]
We present a device that provides memory-based remote detection of spin dynamics in atomic spin structures
Summary
Atomic spin structures assembled by means of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) provide valuable insight into the understanding of atomic-scale magnetism. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM)-based atom manipulation allows for the assembly of artificial spin structures[6,7]: a technique that has enabled studies of collective magnetism ranging from the emergence of magnetic bistability[8,9,10] to spin waves[11], phase transitions[12,13] and topologically protected edge states[14,15,16]. In order to remotely probe the dynamic response occurring faster than the tip travel time, one would need to implement a memory unit that stores this response until the tip has had time to arrive. By comparing experimental results to calculations we show that the triggering of the detector correlates with the probability of a magnetic excitation induced elsewhere reaching the detector due to free quantum evolution
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