A perspective on surface-adsorbed single atom magnets as atomic-scale magnetic memory

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Abstract

Downscaling single magnetic bits to the ultimate size of individual atoms would open the possibility to maximize the magnetic storage density on a solid surface. However, realizing stable magnets of the size of one atom remained an elusive challenge for more than a decade. Recent advances show that single lanthanide atoms on suitable surfaces can preserve their magnetization on a timescale of days at a temperature of 1 K or below. Such properties enable the use of these atoms as stable magnets for low temperature experiments, opening a platform for testing magnetic recording techniques at the atomic scale. In this article, we describe the single atom magnets that have been investigated and the methods employed to address their magnetic properties. We will discuss the limitations of the present systems and techniques and identify the challenges to close the gap toward potential future technological applications.

Original languageEnglish
Article number160503
JournalApplied Physics Letters
Volume119
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - 18 Oct 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors acknowledge funding from the Institute of Basic Science, Korea, through Project No. IBS319 R027-D1.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Author(s).

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