Magnetic ordering in clusters of the group 3 transition elements: Sc{sub n},Y{sub n}, and La{sub n}

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.71.184442· OSTI ID:20719009

Knickelbein, Mark B ^[1]

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1. Chemistry Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439 (United States)

The magnetic properties of isolated clusters composed of scandium, yttrium, and lanthanum containing 5-20 atoms have been investigated in a Stern-Gerlach molecular-beam deflection experiment. The molecular-beam profiles for most clusters in this size range display either high-field deflections indicative of superparamagnetism or symmetric broadening indicative of locked moment behavior. The magnitude of the deflections for those clusters exhibiting high-field seeking behavior indicate susceptibilities that are significantly larger in magnitude than those expected based on the extrapolation of the susceptibility of the bulk solids, signifying that these species are magnetically ordered. Magnetic moments for Sc{sub n} and Y{sub n}, evolve with size in patterns that are strikingly similar to one another. Several clusters stand out as bona fide high-spin molecular magnets: Sc{sub 13} (6.0{+-}0.2{mu}{sub b}),Y{sub 8} (5.5{+-}0.1{mu}{sub b}),Y{sub 13} (8.8{+-}0.1{mu}{sub b}), and La{sub 6} (4.8{+-}0.2{mu}{sub b})

• OSTI ID: 20719009
• Journal Information: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Journal Name: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics Journal Issue: 18 Vol. 71; ISSN 1098-0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ATOMS
EXTRAPOLATION
LANTHANUM
MAGNETIC MOMENTS
MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY
MAGNETS
MOLECULAR BEAMS
MOLECULAR CLUSTERS
SCANDIUM
SOLIDS
SPIN
SUPERPARAMAGNETISM
YTTRIUM