Session A1 - Condensed Matter.
ORAL session, Friday afternoon, March 10
206, Memorial Student Center
Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS) is an established method for studying the vibrational modes of molecules adsorbed on metal surfaces. We have been investigating a new tunnel junction geometry in which an atomically thin layer of inert gas is sandwiched between the surfaces of two perpendicular wires. This technique enables us to fabricate and dope our junctions in situ at low temperature. In previous experiments (D.T. Zimmerman, M.B. Weimer, G. Agnolet, Appl. Phys. Lett. 75), 2500 (1999) we demonstrated the capabilities of this geometry with a neon-platinum junction doped with acetylene (C_2H_2). We are continuing to characterize these junctions for use in IETS. Preliminary data of junctions doped with deuterated acetylene (C_2D_2) will be contrasted with data from C_2H_2 doped junctions. This research is supported by the National Science Foundation, The Texas Advanced Research Program, and the Robert A. Welch Foundation.