A theory for tunneling between a real surface and a model probe tip, applicable to the "scanning tunneling microscope" is presented. The tunneling current is found to be proportional to the local density of states of the surface, at the position of the tip. It can be shown that the tunneling conductance has exponential dependence on the distance of the nearest approach to the surface

JacobTosado July 22, 2004 This paper discusses work I have done with the construction of a low temperature scanning tunneling microscope (LTSTM) and the operation of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). A brief description to why a LTSTM is used and the background concerning that description, is covered. Mainly methods in STM imaging are described giving insight into two possible sources of i...

We have designed and built an optical system to collect light that is generated in the tunneling region of a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. The optical system consists of an in situ lens placed approximately 1.5 cm from the tunneling region and an ex situ optical lens system to analyze the emitted light, for instance, by directing the light into a spectrometer. As a demonstratio...