FABRICATION OF MAGNETIC QUANTUM WIRES BY STEP-FLOW GROWTH OF COBALT ON COPPER SURFACES

One-dimensional-like Co structures 50-Å-wide and 3000-Å-long have been grown by decoration of the monoatomic steps of a Cu(111) surface and visualized with scanning tunneling microscopy. In order to achieve step-flow growth, terrace width, evaporation rate, and substrate temperature have been carefully adjusted. The choice of the (111) terrace orientation and 〈11̄0〉 compact steps ensures a homogeneous width of the Co wires and a lateral confinement of minority-spin electrons.© 1995 American Institute of Physics.