Chemical identification and manipulation of molecules by vibrational excitation via inelastic tunneling process with scanning tunneling microscopy

Next, applications of tunneling electrons to the manipulations of adsorbates are discussed focusing on the phenomena induced by vibrational excitations. STM has a unique character of high current density, which cannot be obtained with conventional sources. The similarity between the vibration excitation with the high current of STM and the phenomenon known as desorption induced by multielectron transfer (DIMET) are discussed. Surface phenomena such as desorption, hopping, rotation and chemical reactions are excited as a consequence of sequential climbing of ladders of a vibrational mode formed in the potential well. The intrinsic high current of STM tunneling current enables such multiple excitations in a more controllable manner than the use of photogenerated hot electrons, and is expected to make a contribution to the understanding of elemental processes of surface phenomena.