Tunneling Anisotropic Magnetoresistance at the Single-Atom Limit

N. Néel, S. Schröder, N. Ruppelt, P. Ferriani, J. Kröger, R. Berndt, and S. Heinze

Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 037202 – Published 18 January 2013

Abstract

The tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance (TAMR) of single Co atoms adsorbed on a double-layer Fe film on W(110) is observed by scanning tunneling spectroscopy. Without applying an external magnetic field the TAMR is found by comparing spectra of atoms that are adsorbed on the domains and domain walls of the Fe film. The TAMR can be as large as 12% and repeatedly changes sign as a function of bias voltage. First-principles calculations show that the hybridization between Co $d$ states of different orbital symmetries depends on the magnetization direction via spin-orbit coupling. This leads to an anisotropy of the density of states and thus induces a TAMR.

Received 17 October 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.037202

Authors & Affiliations

N. Néel^1,*, S. Schröder^2,†, N. Ruppelt¹, P. Ferriani², J. Kröger³, R. Berndt¹, and S. Heinze²

¹Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, D-24098 Kiel, Germany
²Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, D-24098 Kiel, Germany
³Institut für Physik, Technische Universität Ilmenau, D-98693 Ilmenau, Germany

^*Present address: Institut für Physik, Technische Universität Ilmenau, D-98693 Ilmenau, Germany.
^†Corresponding author. schroeder@theo-physik.uni-kiel.de

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Issue

Vol. 110, Iss. 3 — 18 January 2013

Reuse & Permissions

Access Options

Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Physical Review Letters