THEORY OF THE EIGLER SWITCH

We suggest a simple model to describe the reversible field-induced transfer of a single Xe atom in a scanning tunneling microscope, the Eigler switch. Inelastically tunneling electrons give rise to fluctuating forces on and damping of the Xe atom resulting in an effective current dependent temperature. The rate of transfer is controlled by the well-known Arrhenius law with this effective temperature. The directionality of atom transfer is discussed, and the importance of use of nonequilibrium formalism for the electronic environment is emphasized. The theory constitutes a formal derivation and generalization of desorption induced by multiple electron transitions.