Detection and Manipulation of the Hyperfine Interaction of Individual Atoms using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

Taking advantage of nuclear spins for electronic structure analysis, magnetic resonance imaging and quantum devices hinges on the knowledge and control of their surrounding electronic configuration. Thus far, nuclear spin properties of single adatoms could not be studied individually using scanning probe techniques. Here, we measure and control the hyperfine interaction of individual atoms on magnesium oxide (MgO) by using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy in combination with electron spin resonance[1]. This allows to extract properties of the nuclear spin, for example to distinguish different isotopes, as well as information on the local electronic structure of single atoms and nanostructures.
[1] Baumann et al., Science 350, 6259 (2015).