Using ring-shaped and magnetically coated tungsten wire as the probe of spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy

Abstract

We report a method of magnetic probe fabrication using ring-shaped and iron-coated tungsten wire for spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. Magneto-optic Kerr effect measurement on the probe front end shows that by controlling the saturating field direction, we can fix the probe magnetization in the specific in-plane direction. The ring is applied to the scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy experiment on 6.8 ML Mn∕Fe(001), and spin contrast in the in-plane direction is demonstrated.