STM-tip induced magnetic state change of Fe atom bridge

Abstract

We investigate how the deformation of an atom bridge, made of Fe, between a scanning tunneling microscope tip and a solid surface affects the magnetic state of the atom bridge within the density functional simulations. For atom bridges of chain structure and ladder structure, we calculate their total energies and their magnetic moments as we elongate and/or compress the bridge in length. On the basis of the numerical results, we show that the Fe atom bridge of a twisted ladder structure is stable to induce the change in the magnetic state as the bridge is compressed in length.