= Scanning tunneling spectroscopy
{title2=STS}
{wiki}
A conducting tip probes the energy-dependent local <density of states> by recording tunnel current versus applied bias, often measuring $dI/dV$ with a small bias modulation and lock-in detection. At low temperature and for slowly varying tip density and matrix element, $dI/dV$ is proportional to sample local density of states at the corresponding bias energy. Thermal broadening, surface structure and energy-dependent tunnelling selectivity limit a direct interpretation as bulk band structure.
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