Orbital memory from individual Fe atoms on black phosphorus
| Autor: | Brian Kiraly, Elze J. Knol, Alexander N. Rudenko, Mikhail I. Katsnelson, Alexander A. Khajetoorians |
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| Rok vydání: | 2022 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Physical Review Research, 4, 3, pp. 1-9 Physical Review Research, 4, 1-9 |
| ISSN: | 2643-1564 |
| Popis: | Bistable valency in individual atoms presents a new approach toward single-atom memory, as well as a building block to create tunable and stochastic multi-well energy landscapes. Yet, this concept of orbital memory has thus far only been observed for cobalt atoms on the surface of black phosphorus, which are switched using tip-induced ionization. Here, we show that individual iron atoms on the surface of black phosphorus exhibit orbital memory using a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy with ab initio calculations based on density functional theory. Unlike cobalt, the iron orbital memory can be switched in its non-ionized ground state. Based on calculations, we confirm that each iron valency has a distinct magnetic moment that is characterized by a distinguishable charge distribution due to the different orbital population. By studying the stochastic switching of the valency with varying tunneling conditions, we propose that the switching mechanism is based on a two-electron tunneling process. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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