The phenomenon of quantum nucleation is studied in a nanometer-scale
antiferromagnet with biaxial symmetry in the presence of a magnetic field at an
arbitrary angle. Within the instanton approach, we calculate the dependence of
the rate of quantum nucleation and the crossover temperature on the orientation
and strength of the field for bulk solids and two-dimensional films of
antiferromagnets, respectively. Our results show that the rate of quantum
nucleation and the crossover temperature from thermal-to-quantum transitions
depend on the orientation and strength of the field distinctly, which can be
tested with the use of existing experimental techniques.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures, Final version and accepted by Eur. Phys. J
