Dresden 2026 – scientific programme

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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik

O 64: Surface Magnetism

O 64.6: Invited Talk

Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 16:30–17:00, HSZ/0403

Single-spin sensing: A molecule-on-tip approach — •Laurent Limot — Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPCMS, UMR 7504, F-67000 Strasbourg, France

Magnetometry plays a pivotal role in advancing ultra-dense data-storage technologies and addressing the challenges that arise as spin qubits are downscaled. A promising route toward atomic-scale single-spin sensing is the use of a magnetic molecule as a spin sensor, although practical implementations of this concept remain at an early stage. To demonstrate its feasibility and potential, we combine a nickelocene molecule with scanning tunneling microscopy to achieve versatile, spin-sensitive imaging of magnetic surfaces.

We investigate model Co islands of varying thickness on Cu(111), which exhibit distinct magnetic properties. Our approach proves robust and reproducible, offering atomic-scale sensitivity to both spin polarization and magnetization orientation through the direct exchange coupling between the nickelocene-terminated tip and the Co surface. This capability enables the acquisition of magnetic exchange maps, whose characteristic magnetic corrugation patterns show excellent agreement with computed spin-density distributions. Building on this foundation, we will apply the method to probe the influence of hydrogen on magnetization, a topic of significant relevance in spintronics. Collectively, these advances substantially enhance our ability to probe and visualize magnetism at the atomic scale.

Keywords: Scanning tunneling microscopy; Spin excitation spectroscopy; Atomic-scale magnetic imaging; Nickelocene magnetometry; Single-spin sensing