Probing the Local Effects of Magnetic Impurities on Superconductivity
The local effects of isolated magnetic adatoms on the electronic properties of the surface of a superconductor were studied with a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. Tunneling spectra obtained near magnetic adsorbates reveal the presence of excitations within the superconductor's energy gap that can be detected over a few atomic diameters around the impurity at the surface. These excitations are locally asymmetric with respect to tunneling of electrons and holes. A model calculation based on the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations can be used to understand the details of the local tunneling spectra.
Yazdani
A
IBM Research Division, Almaden Research Center, 650 Harry Road, San Jose, Ca 95120, USA.
Jones
BA
Lutz
CP
Crommie
MF
Eigler
DM