The left image shows a sketch of the configuration used for the first-principles simulation
of magnetic exchance force microscopy. A small cluster of Fe atoms is used to mimic the tip
in the experiment while the sample consists of a single atomic layer of Fe atoms on the W(001)
surface. As shown by the blue and red arrows the magnetic ground state of the Fe monolayer is
antiferromagnetic (PRL 94, 087204 (2005)).
The right part of the image shows the experimental image on the Fe monolayer on W(001) using an atomic force
microscope in the non-contact mode and with a magnetically coated tip. The checkerboard antiferromagnetic
structure of the Fe ML is clearly resolved and the image is in excellent agreement with the simulated
image shown as an inset.
