Probing ultrafast spin dynamics with optical pump–probe scanning tunnelling microscopy

Spin dynamics in semiconductor heterostructures can be probed by a modified scanning tunnelling microscopy technique with a temporal resolution of a few picoseconds. Studies of spin dynamics in low-dimensional systems are important from both fundamental and practical points of view 1 , 2 . Spin-polarized scanning tunnelling microscopy allows localized spin dynamics to be characterized and plays important roles in nanoscale science and technology 3 , 4 , 5 . However, nanoscale analysis of the ultrafast dynamics of itinerant magnetism, as well as its localized characteristics, should be pursued to advance further the investigation of quantum dynamics in functional structures of small systems. Here, we demonstrate the optical pump–probe scanning tunnelling microscopy technique, which enables the nanoscale probing of spin dynamics with the temporal resolution corresponding, in principle, to the optical pulse width. Spins are optically oriented using circularly polarized light, and their dynamics are probed by scanning tunnelling microscopy based on the optical pump–probe method. Spin relaxation in a single quantum well with a width of 6 nm was observed with a spatial resolution of ∼1 nm. In addition to spin relaxation dynamics, spin precession, which provides an estimation of the Landé g factor, was observed successfully.