Special CPM Seminar

Probing magnetic nanostructures by scanning probe technique

Mircea V. Rastei

Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg
Université de Strasbourg

The electron spin in magnetic nanostructures is a key ingredient for diverse and innovative quantum applications. At the nanometre scale many structural parameters and local interactions impact the nanostructure characteristics. I focus here on two scanning probe techniques capable to address spin properties at the smallest possible length scales. First, I present an approach in which field-dependent magnetic force microscopy is used to address collective spin behavior in single nanoparticles. Then, I show results obtained by spin-polarized scanning tunnelling spectroscopy on supported nanoislands, molecules and adatoms. To which extent the spin states are influenced by minute structural changes are presented in both cases. Possibilities for manipulating electronic spin states in single magnetic nanoobjects are also discussed.