Scientists discover new mechanism for information storage in one atom

Phys.org  September 25, 2018
An international team of researchers (China, Russia) has shown a mechanism for single-atom magnetic storage based on bistability in the valency of an individual Co atom on semiconducting black phosphorus (BP). Calculations reveal that distance-dependent screening from the BP surface stabilizes the two distinct valencies, each with a unique orbital population, total magnetic moment, and spatial charge density. Excellent correspondence between the measured and predicted charge densities reveal that such orbital configurations can be accessed and manipulated without a spin-sensitive readout mechanism. This orbital memory derives stability from the energetic barrier to atomic relaxation, demonstrating the potential for high-temperature single-atom information storage… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE

The inset images showing before and after configurations are 4 nm × 4 nm in size. f Schematic representation of adsorption energy curves for Co species on BP. Credit: Nature Communications (2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06337-4

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