Researchers show helium can assist in controlling the spin polarization of electrons
Researchers at University of St. Andrews in the U.K., along with other institutes worldwide, have recently shown that helium can influence the spin polarization of the tunneling current and magnetic contrast of a technique known as spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy (SP STM). Their findings could have important implications for the development of new electronic devices.
In their previous research, the same research group investigated the magnetic order in the antiferromagnetic material iron telluride. They found that by collecting magnetic material from their sample's surface using an STM tip, they could image the sample's magnetic order.