Inelastic electron scattering in aggregates of transition metal atoms on metal surfaces

GOLDBERG, E. C.; FLORES, F.

Physical Review B

American Physical Society

Lugar: New York; Año: 2017 vol. 96 p. 1 - 13

2469-9950

Inelastic spin excitations, as observed with a scanning tunneling microscope for Co/Co and Fe/Fe dimers ona Cu2N/Cu(100) surface, have been analyzed theoretically in this paper. In our approach, we use an extendedionic Hamiltonian for the magnetic atom that takes into account first, the role played by the first Hund rule inthe atomic states, and second, the cotunneling processes associated with the atomic excitations and the tunnelingconductance. This Hamiltonian is solved using the equation of motion method that yields the appropriate Green?sfunctions allowing us to calculate the differential conductance, the inelastic atomic excitations, and possibleKondo resonances. We also analyze an ideal dimer with spin ½ in each atom and discuss the differences andsimilarities this model has with the Co-Co case.