This image illustrates the demonstration of atomic-scale magnetic resolution with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) using a magnetic tip. The red and green atoms represent chemically equivalent manganese atoms with magnetic moments pointing in opposite directions. This type of two-dimensional antiferromagnetic structure had been predicted by first-principles calculations more than 10 years before it was imaged with an STM. The black & white contour surface shows the calculated STM image which agrees with the experimental observation.
Further reading: S.Heinze et al., Science 288, 1805 (2000).)

Movie: This movie illustrates the demonstration of atomic-scale magnetic resolution with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) using a magnetic tip. The red and green atoms represent chemically equivalent manganese atoms with magnetic moments pointing in opposite directions. This type of two-dimensional antiferromagnetic structure had been predicted by first-principles calculations more than 10 years before it was imaged with an STM. The black & white contour surface shows the calculated STM image which agrees with the experimental observation.