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Sensing the quantum limit in scanning tunnelling spectroscopy

Author

Listed:
  • Christian R. Ast

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung)

  • Berthold Jäck

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
    Present address: Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA)

  • Jacob Senkpiel

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung)

  • Matthias Eltschka

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung)

  • Markus Etzkorn

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung)

  • Joachim Ankerhold

    (Institut für Komplexe Quantensysteme and IQST, Universität Ulm)

  • Klaus Kern

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
    Institut de Physique, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)

Abstract

The tunnelling current in scanning tunnelling spectroscopy (STS) is typically and often implicitly modelled by a continuous and homogeneous charge flow. If the charging energy of a single-charge quantum sufficiently exceeds the thermal energy, however, the granularity of the current becomes non-negligible. In this quantum limit, the capacitance of the tunnel junction mediates an interaction of the tunnelling electrons with the surrounding electromagnetic environment and becomes a source of noise itself, which cannot be neglected in STS. Using a scanning tunnelling microscope operating at 15 mK, we show that we operate in this quantum limit, which determines the ultimate energy resolution in STS. The P(E)-theory describes the probability for a tunnelling electron to exchange energy with the environment and can be regarded as the energy resolution function. We experimentally demonstrate this effect with a superconducting aluminium tip and a superconducting aluminium sample, where it is most pronounced.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian R. Ast & Berthold Jäck & Jacob Senkpiel & Matthias Eltschka & Markus Etzkorn & Joachim Ankerhold & Klaus Kern, 2016. "Sensing the quantum limit in scanning tunnelling spectroscopy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13009
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13009
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