7 research outputs found
Quantum interference effects in a system of two tunnel point-contacts in the presence of single scatterer: simulation of a double-tip STM experiment
The conductance of systems containing two tunnel point-contacts and a single
subsurface scatterer is investigated theoretically. The problem is solved in
the approximation of s-wave scattering giving analytical expressions for the
wave functions and for the conductance of the system. Conductance oscillations
resulting from the interference of electron waves passing through different
contacts and their interference with the waves scattered by the defect are
analyzed. The prospect for determining the depth of the impurity below the
metal surface by using the dependence of the conductance as a function of the
distance between the contacts is discussed. It is shown that the application of
an external magnetic field results in Aharonov-Bohm type oscillations in the
conductance, the period of which allows detection of the depth of the defect in
a double tip STM experiment.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Fiz. Nizk. Temp. (Low Temp.
Phys.), V.37, No.1 (2011) corrected figure
Conductance of a STM contact on the surface of a thin film
The conductance of a contact, having a radius smaller than the Fermi wave
length, on the surface of a thin metal film is investigated theoretically. It
is shown that quantization of the electron energy spectrum in the film leads to
a step-like dependence of differential conductance G(V) as a function of
applied bias eV. The distance between neighboring steps in eV equals the energy
level spacing due to size quantization. We demonstrate that a study of G(V) for
both signs of the voltage maps the spectrum of energy levels above and below
Fermi surface in scanning tunneling experiments.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure
Electron tunneling into surface states through an inhomogeneous barrier: Asymptotically exact solution of the problem, and STM theory
We have found an asymptotically exact solution of the Schrödinger equation for electrons tunneling into surface
states through an inhomogeneous barrier of large amplitude. Assuming an elliptic dispersion law for the
charge carriers the “standing wave” pattern in the conductance of the system resulting from the electron scattering
by a single defect in the vicinity of the surface is analyzed