Stern-Gerlach experiments on Mn@Sn12: identification of a paramagnetic superatom and vibrationally induced spin orientation

Phys Rev Lett. 2013 Sep 27;111(13):133401. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.133401. Epub 2013 Sep 24.

Abstract

Beam deflection experiments in inhomogeneous magnetic fields reveal a new limiting case of the magnetization distribution of isolated clusters. Endohedrally doped clusters are produced in a temperature controlled, cryogenically cooled laser ablation source. Temperature dependent experiments indicate a crucial contribution of molecular vibrations to the spin dynamics of Mn@Sn12. In its vibrational ground state the cluster behaves magnetically like a paramagnetic atom, with quantized spin states. However, excited molecular vibrations induce spin orientation in the magnetic field.