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The study of single magnetic rare-earth (RE) atoms adsorbed on metallic and insulating solid surfaces recently became a subject of intense research. These “single-atom” magnets serve as benchmarks in a quest for the ultimate size limit of magnetic information storage. The major advance of observing the magnetic remanence was recently reported for the Ho adatom on MgO substrate. The stable magnetic quantum state of the adatom was found on the time scale of 1500 s at 10 K temperature.
Description
The holmium atom on the platinum surface is found in a distinctly anisotropic environment (surrounded by adjacent atoms from some sides and not others) that determines the direction and stability of the magnetic moment carried by the atom.