Competing spin phases in geometrically frustrated magnetic molecules.
We identify a class of zero-dimensional classical and quantum Heisenberg spin systems exhibiting anomalous behavior in an external magnetic field B similar to that found for the geometrically frustrated kagome lattice of classical spins. Our calculations for the isotropic Heisenberg model show the emergence of a pronounced minimum in the differential susceptibility dM/dB at B(sat)/3 as the temperature T is raised from 0 K for structures based on corner-sharing triangles, specifically the octahedron, cuboctahedron, and icosidodecahedron. As the first experimental evidence we note that the giant Keplerate magnetic molecule {Mo(72)Fe(30)} (Fe(3+) ions on the 30 vertices of an icosidodecahedron) exhibits this behavior. For low T when B approximately B(sat)/3 two competing families of spin configurations exist of which one behaves magnetically "stiff" leading to a reduction of dM/dB.
Schröder
Christian
C
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Applied Sciences Bielefeld, D-33602 Bielefeld, Germany. schroder@ameslab.gov
Nojiri
Hiroyuki
H
Schnack
Jürgen
J
Hage
Peter
P
Luban
Marshall
M
Kögerler
Paul
P