Abstract

We have extended the spectroscopic abilities of the scanning tunneling microscope to include the measurement of spin-excitation spectra. Utilizing spin-excitation spectroscopy as our primary tool, we are now capable of extracting exchange coupling energies, anisotropy energies, and information on the spin configuration of nanometer-scale structures. What we learn from these experiments will hopefully allow us to engineer the “energy landscape” of a system of spins in order to achieve nanometer-scale binary logic circuits that operate using only the spin degree of freedom.

Dr. Eigler demonstrated for the first time the ability to build structures at the atomic level by spelling out “I-B-M” with individual xenon atoms. Since then, Dr. Eigler has led an active group of scientists in a series of experiments aimed at extending basic knowledge about the physics of atomic-scale structures and exploring the potential for atomic-scale logic and data-storage technologies using STM .