title: Observation of a half step magnetization in the {Cu3}-type triangular spin ring.
abstract: We report pulsed field magnetization and ESR experiments on a {Cu3} nanomagnet, where antiferromagnetically coupled Cu(2+) (S = 1/2) ions form a slightly distorted triangle. The remarkable feature is the observation of a half step magnetization, hysteresis loops, and an asymmetric magnetization between a positive and a negative field in a fast sweeping external field. This is attributed to an adiabatic change of magnetization. The energy levels determined by ESR unveil that the different mixing nature of a spin chirality of a total S = 1/2 Kramers doublet by virtue of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions is decisive for inducing half step magnetization.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Katahira 2-1-1, Sendai 980-8577, Japan, and CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Japan.
authors.forename: Kwang-Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yasuhiro H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nojiri
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kortz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Ashley C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Stowe
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ramsey
authors.forename: Naresh S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Dalal