Scanning tunneling microscopy of adsorbed molecules: theoretical considerations

Fabio Biscarini; Carlos J. Bustamante; Vasudev M. Kenkre

doi:10.1117/12.58179

1 May 1992 Scanning tunneling microscopy of adsorbed molecules: theoretical considerations

Fabio Biscarini, Carlos J. Bustamante, Vasudev M. Kenkre

Proceedings Volume 1639, Scanning Probe Microscopies; (1992) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.58179
Event: OE/LASE '92, 1992, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

The interpretation of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images of adsorbed molecules requires a redefinition of the current, that goes beyond the limitations imposed by the Transfer Hamiltonian formalism. Here we discuss two expressions for the tunneling current we derived, both suitable for situations in which an adsorbate is placed between tip and substrate. The former is still based on a perturbative approach, but emphasizes the contributions to the STM current due to the adsorbate. The latter is an exact expression obtained by treating the STM current like an electron transport process. This allows the inclusion of both the quantum aspects of the transport and thermal effects, and it can be used in widely different situations.

Citation Download Citation

Fabio Biscarini, Carlos J. Bustamante, and Vasudev M. Kenkre "Scanning tunneling microscopy of adsorbed molecules: theoretical considerations", Proc. SPIE 1639, Scanning Probe Microscopies, (1 May 1992); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.58179

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