Resonance-enhanced vibrational spectroscopy of molecules on a superconductor

Abstract

Molecular vibrational spectroscopy with the scanning tunneling microscope is feasible but usually detects few vibrational modes. We harness sharp Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (YSR) states observed from molecules on a superconductor to significantly enhance the vibrational signal. From a lead phthalocyanin molecule 46 vibrational peaks are resolved enabling a comparison with calculated modes. The energy resolution is improved beyond the thermal broadening limit and shifts induced by neighbor molecules or the position of the microscope tip are determined. Vice versa, spectra of vibrational modes are used to measure the effect of an electrical field on the energy of YSR states. The method may help to further probe the interaction of molecules with their environment and to better understand selection rules for vibrational excitations.

References in corpus (3)

• Inelastic transport theory from first-principles: methodology and applications for nanoscale devices
• Unified description of inelastic propensity rules for electron transport through nanoscale junctions
• Electrically-driven vibronic spectroscopy with sub-molecular resolution

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Pair excitations of a quantum spin on a proximitized superconductor
• Boosting the STM's spatial and energy resolution with double-functionalized probe tips
• Full Counting Statistics of Yu-Shiba-Rusinov Bound States
• Variations of vibronic states in densely-packed structures of molecules with intramolecular dipoles
• A minimal model of inelastic tunneling of vibrating magnetic molecules on superconducting substrates