Boosting the STM's spatial and energy resolution with double-functionalized probe tips

Abstract: Scattering of superconducting pairs by magnetic impurities on a superconducting surface leads to pairs of sharp in-gap resonances, known as Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (YSR) bound states. Similarly to the interference of itinerant electrons scattered by defects in normal metals, these resonances reveal a periodic texture around the magnetic impurity. However, the wavelength of these resonances is often too short to be resolved even by methods capable of atomic resolution, like scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Here, we combine a CO molecule with a superconducting cluster pre-attached to an STM tip to maximize both spatial and energy resolution. The superior properties of such a double-functionalized probe are demonstrated by imaging the spatial distribution of YSR states around magnetic Fe atoms on a Nb(110) surface. Our approach reveals rich interference patterns of the hybridized YSR state, previously inaccessible with conventional STM probes. This advancement extends the capabilities of STM techniques, providing insights into superconducting phenomena at the atomic scale.