Probing Spin Frustration in High-symmetry Magnetic Nanomolecules by Inelastic Neutron Scattering

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2006 · Physical Review B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.73.024414· OSTI ID:1003332

Garlea, Vasile O ^[1]; Nagler, Stephen E ^[1]; Zarestky, Jerel L ^[1]; Stassis, C. ^[2]; Vaknin, D. ^[2]; Kogerler, P. ^[2]; McMorrow, D. F. ^[3]; Niedermayer, C. ^[4]; Tennant, D. A. ^[5]; Lake, B. ^[6]; Qiu, Y. ^[7]; Exler, M. ^[8]; Schnack, J. ^[8]; Luban, M. ^[2]

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1. ORNL
2. Ames Laboratory
3. Riso National Laboratory, Roskilde, Denmark
4. Laboratory for Neutron Scattering ETHZ & PSI
5. University of St. Andrews, Scotland
6. University of Oxford
7. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
8. Universitat Osnabruck, Germany

Low temperature inelastic neutron scattering studies have been performed to characterize the low energy magnetic excitation spectrum of the magnetic nanomolecule {l_brace}Mo{sub 72}Fe{sub 30}{r_brace}. This unique highly symmetric cluster features spin frustration and is one of the largest discrete magnetic molecules studied to date by inelastic neutron scattering. The 30 s=5/2 Fe{sup III} ions, embedded in a spherical polyoxomolybdate molecule, occupy the vertices of an icosidodecahedron and are coupled via nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic interactions. The overall energy scale of the excitation and the gross features of the temperature dependence of the observed neutron scattering are explained by a quantum model of the frustrated spin cluster. However, no satisfactory theoretical explanation is yet available for the observed magnetic field dependence.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1003332
• Journal Information: Physical Review B, Vol. 73, Issue 2; ISSN 1098--0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
EXCITATION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION
INELASTIC SCATTERING
SPIN
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE