Magnetic Enhancement in Cobalt-Manganese Alloy Clusters

Magnetic moments of CoNMnM and CoNVM clusters (N ≤ 60; M ≤ N/3) are measured in molecular beams using the Stern-Gerlach deflection method. Surprisingly, the per atom average moments of CoNMnM clusters are found to increase with Mn concentration, in contrast to bulk CoMn. The enhancement with Mn doping is found to be independent of cluster size and composition in the size range studied. Meanwhile, CoNVM clusters show reduction of average moments with increasing V doping, consistent with what is expected in bulk CoV. The results are discussed within the virtual bound states model

Spin Uncoupling in Free Nb Clusters: Support for Nascent Superconductivity

Molecular beam Stern-Gerlach deflection measurements on Nb clusters (NbN, N \u3c100) show that at very low temperatures the odd-N clusters deflect due to a single unpaired spin that is uncoupled from the cluster. At higher temperatures the spin is coupled and no deflections are observed. Spin uncoupling occurs concurrently with the transition to the recently found ferroelectric state, which has superconductor characteristics [Science 300, 1265 (2003)]. Spin uncoupling (also seen in V, Ta, and Al clusters) is analogous to the reduction of spin-relaxation rates observed in bulk superconductors below Tc

Measurement of magnetic moments of free Bi\u3ci\u3eN\u3c/i\u3eMn\u3ci\u3eM\u3c/i\u3e clusters

Magnetic properties of free BiNMnM clusters (N=2–20, M=0–7) are determined from Stern-Gerlach deflections at low temperature (46.5 K). Pure bismuth clusters with odd number of atoms exhibit paramagnetic deflections. The addition of manganese atoms produces a ferromagnetic response which is strongly size dependent. Certain combinations have very large magnetic moments such as Bi5Mn3, Bi9 Mn4, Bi10Mn5, and Bi12Mn6

Magnetic Moments and Adiabatic Magnetization of Free Cobalt Clusters

Magnetizations and magnetic moments of free cobalt clusters CoN (12\u3c N \u3c200) in a cryogenic (25 K ≤ T ≤ 100 K) molecular beam were determined from Stern-Gerlach deflections. All clusters preferentially deflect in the direction of the increasing field and the average magnetization resembles the Langevin function for all cluster sizes even at low temperatures. We demonstrate in the avoided crossing model that the average magnetization may result from adiabatic processes of rotating and vibrating clusters in the magnetic field and that spin relaxation is not involved. This resolves a longstanding problem in the interpretation of cluster beam deflection experiments with implications for nanomagnetic systems in general

Tuning the Magnetic Ordering Temperature of Hexagonal Ferrites by Structural Distortion Control

To tune the magnetic properties of hexagonal ferrites, a family of magnetoelectric multiferroic materials, by atomic-scale structural engineering, we studied the effect of structural distortion on the magnetic ordering temperature (TN). Using the symmetry analysis, we show that unlike most antiferromagnetic rare-earth transition-metal perovskites, a larger structural distortion leads to a higher TN in hexagonal ferrites and manganites, because the K3 structural distortion induces the three-dimensional magnetic ordering, which is forbidden in the undistorted structure by symmetry. We also revealed a near-linear relation between TN and the tolerance factor and a power-law relation between TN and the K3 distortion amplitude. Following the analysis, a record-high TN (185 K) among hexagonal ferrites was predicted in hexagonal ScFeO3 and experimentally verified in epitaxially stabilized films. These results add to the paradigm of spin-lattice coupling in antiferromagnetic oxides and suggests further tunability of hexagonal ferrites if more lattice distortion can be achieved

Metastability of Free Cobalt and Iron Clusters: A Possible Precursor to Bulk Ferromagnetism

Homonuclear cobalt and iron clusters CoN and FeN measured in a cryogenic molecular beam exist in two states with distinct magnetic moments (μ), polarizabilities, and ionization potentials, indicating distinct valences. The μ is approximately quantized: μN ~ 2NμB in the ground states and μN* ~ NμB in the excited states for Co; μN ~ 3N μB and μN * ~ NμB for Fe. At a large size, the average μ of the two states converges to the bulk value with diminishing ionization potential differences. The experiments suggest localized ferromagnetism in the two states and that itinerant ferromagnetism emerges from their superposition