Development, Fabrication and Characterisation of Atom Chips

Atom chips are robust and extremely powerful toolboxes for quantum optical experiments, since they make it possible to create exceedingly precise magnetic traps for neutral atoms with minimal field modulations. Accurate manipulation of trapped atoms is feasible with magnetic and electric fields created on the atom chip. Therefore atom chips with high quality surfaces and extremely well defined wires were build (roughness < 20nm). Furthermore new generations of atom chips were developed, like the multi-layer atom chip with contact-free wire crossings, the sub-micron structured atom chip and the semiconducting atom chip. Extensive characterisation measurements of atom chip wires demonstrated that the wires stand current densities of up to 10^7A/cm^2 for seconds and voltage differences of more than 500V over 10µm. From the different materials tested doped silicon with a thin silicon dioxide layer is the best qualified substrate for atom chip fabrication. The atom chips fabricated during this thesis have been used in many successful experiments, yielding numerous results. Moreover this thesis established the basics for many further experiments in atom physics and quantum optics and delivers complete instructions for the fabrication of all developed atom chips as well as an introduction to the experiments

Designing potentials by sculpturing wires

Magnetic trapping potentials for atoms on atom chips are determined by the current flow in the chip wires. By modifying the shape of the conductor we can realize specialized current flow patterns and therefore micro-design the trapping potentials. We have demonstrated this by nano-machining an atom chip using the focused ion beam technique. We built a trap, a barrier and using a BEC as a probe we showed that by polishing the conductor edge the potential roughness on the selected wire can be reduced. Furthermore we give different other designs and discuss the creation of a 1D magnetic lattice on an atom chip.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figure

A simple integrated single-atom detector

We present a reliable and robust integrated fluorescence detector capable of detecting single atoms. The detector consists of a tapered lensed single-mode fiber for precise delivery of excitation light and a multimode fiber to collect the fluorescence. Both are mounted in lithographically defined SU-8 holding structures on an atom chip. Rb87 atoms propagating freely in a magnetic guide are detected with an efficiency of up to 66%, and a signal-to-noise ratio in excess of 100 is obtained for short integration times.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

A comparative study on the deposition of Mn12 single molecule magnets on the Au(111) surface

Different approaches to the deposition of Mn12 single molecule magnets on the Au(111) surface and their characterization by a broad variety of techniques are investigated with respect to their suitability for a profound corroboration of the integrity of the Mn12 core. In this context, the most recent improvements in the experimental approaches are presented and the latest results on the electronic properties of Mn12 are linked to each other. The results confirm the high instability of Mn12 single molecule magnets on surfaces and reveal the need for an amendment of the requirements to define the structural integrity of Mn12 molecules on surfaces

Experimental observation of a band gap in individual Mn12 molecules on Au(111)

The authors report on the electronic properties of individual molecules of two Mn12 derivatives chemically grafted on the functionalized Au(111) surface studied by means of ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy at room temperature. Reproducible current-voltage curves were obtained from both Mn12 molecules, showing a well defined wide band gap. In agreement with the tunneling spectroscopy results, the bias voltage variation upon scanning leads to apparent height changes of the Mn12 clusters. The authors discuss these findings in the light of the recent band structure calculations and electronic transport measurements on single Mn12 molecules

Electronic transport properties and orientation of individual Mn12 single-molecule magnets

Individual Mn12 single-molecule magnets have been investigated by means of scanning tunneling spectroscopy at room temperature. Current-voltage characteristics of a Mn12 derivative are studied in detail and compared with simulations. A few-parameter scalar model for ballistic current flow through a single energy level is sufficient to describe the main features observed in scanning tunneling spectra of individual Mn12 molecules and offers a deeper insight into the electronic transport properties of this class of single-molecule magnets. In addition, distance-voltage spectroscopy performed on individual Mn12 molecules reveals a possibility to identify the orientation of the molecular easy axis. The results indicate a preferential orientation of the easy axis of the molecules nearly perpendicular to the surface

A possible approach towards spin-polarized transport through single molecule magnets : Mn12 on Au(1 0 0)/Fe(1 0 0)/MgO(1 0 0)

The possibility to use the Au(1 0 0)/Fe(1 0 0)/MgO(1 0 0) system as a substrate for future spin-polarized transport measurements on Mn12 single molecule magnets has been investigated by means of scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at room temperature. In particular, the stability of the iron layer during a wet chemical preparation of Mn12 monolayers was studied. The results demonstrate that Mn12 can be deposited on Au(1 0 0)/Fe(1 0 0)/MgO(1 0 0) while preserving the metallic nature of the ferromagnetic iron layer which is required as a possible source of spin-polarized electrons in future studies

Single-molecule magnets : a new approach to investigate the electronic structure of Mn12 molecules by scanning tunneling spectroscopy

A new approach to the deposition of Mn12 single-molecule magnet monolayers on the functionalized Au(111) surface optimized for the investigation by means of scanning tunneling spectroscopy was developed. To demonstrate this method, the new Mn12 complex [Mn12O12(O2CC6H4F)16(EtOH)4]·4.4CHCl3 was synthesized and characterized. In MALDI-TOF mass spectra the isotopic distribution of the molecular ion peak of the latter complex was revealed. The complex was grafted to Au(111) surfaces via two different short conducting linker molecules. The Mn12 molecules deposited on the functionalized surface were characterized by means of scanning tunneling microscopy showing homogeneous monolayers of highest quality. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements over a wider energy range compared with previous results could be performed because of the optimized Au(111) surface functionalization. Furthermore, the results substantiate the general suitability of short acidic linker molecules for the preparation of Mn12 monolayers via ligand exchange and represent a crucial step toward addressing the magnetic properties of individual Mn12 single-molecule magnets

Identification of linker molecules suited for deposition and study of Mn12 single molecule magnets on Au surfaces

The authors report on a scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy investigation of the possibility to influence the assembly of monolayers of Mn12 single molecule magnets on a functionalized Au(111) surface by using flexible linker molecules. The results corroborate the general suitability of the deposition via ligand exchange reaction but, on the other hand, reveal the need for a compromise between conductivity and flexibility of the linker molecules. The results are discussed with respect to previous attempts [A. Naitabdi et al., Adv. Mater. (Weinheim, Ger.) 17, 1612 (2005)] to deposit ordered monolayers of Mn12 molecules on Au(111)

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy on Mn12 single molecule magnets grafted on Au(111)

We report on the electronic properties of Mn12 molecules chemically grafted on the functionalized Au(111) surface studied by means of scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy at room temperature. Reproducible current-voltage curves were obtained from Mn12 molecules showing a large region of low conductance around the Fermi energy. In agreement with the tunneling spectroscopy results the bias voltage variation upon scanning leads to apparent height changes of the Mn12 clusters. We discuss these findings in the light of the recent band structure calculations and electronic transport measurements on single Mn12 molecules