Construction of an ESR-STM for Single Molecular Based Magnets anchored at Surfaces

Abstract

Reading and manipulating the spin status of single magnetic molecules is of paramount importance both for applicative and fundamental purposes. The possibility to combine Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM) has been explored one decade ago. A few experiments have raised the question whether or not an EPR spectrum of single molecule is detachable. Only a few data have been reported in modern surface science literature. To date it has yet to be proven to which extent ESR can be reliably and reproducibly performed on single molecules. We are setting up a new ESR-STM (spectrometer) to verify and study the effect of spin-spin correlations in the frequency spectrum of the tunneling current which flows through a single magnetic adsorbate and a metal surface. Here we discuss, the major experimental challenges that we are attempting to overcome.