Nanosecond Laser Induced Tunneling and Atom Deposition-An STM Application to Nanofabrication.
Abstract
Nanosecond laser pulses, with 2.33 eV photon energy and about 0.6 MW/cm2 radiation flux, have been used to initiate a transient increase of tunneling current between the tip and sample surface in an ultrahigh vacuum STM apparatus. As the laser power is increased to about 2.5 MW/cm2, single atom transfer from the tip to a silicon surface occurs. For both polarities the laser induced tunneling current is linear with laser pulse energy up to about 0.6 MW/cm2. A transient tunneling current up to 15 microA has been observed. The similarity of the laser induced transient tunneling for both polarities, and hence its independence on material, suggest that the same mechanism is operative in both directions of tunneling. Both ballistic electron tunneling and band bending effects have been considered in the analysis of the electron transfer. It is proposed, however, that pulse laser heating of the tip causes this transient increase of the tunneling current due to a transient thermal expansion, reducing the tip sample tunneling distance. The increase in tunneling current may lead to additional Nottingham heating of the tip apex. At a laser flux of 2.5 MW/cm2, single atom transfer between the W tip and the silicon surface occurs. The number of atoms transferred can be controlled by the laser flux, and the transfer process is virtually independent of the tip sample bias polarity. Since a maximum tip temperature of 650 K is estimated during the pulse, W atom transfer must occur under the influence of strong W-Si chemical interaction. The speed of the pulse laser atom transfer (8 nsec) exceeds by orders of magnitude the transfer speed which could be achieved by pulsing the STM piezo drive.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 27, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA305209
Entities
People
- J. T. Yates Jr.
- V. A. Ukraintsev
Organizations
- University of Pittsburgh