Direct experimental evidence for atomic tunneling of europium in crystalline Eu8Ga16Ge30.
Mössbauer-effect and microwave absorption experimental evidence unambiguously demonstrates the presence of slow, approximately 450 MHz, tunneling of magnetic europium between four equivalent sites in Eu8Ga16Ge30, a stoichiometric clathrate. Remarkably, six of the eight europium atoms, or 11% of the constituents in this solid, tunnel between these four sites separated by 0.55 A. The off centering of the atoms or ions in crystalline clathrates appears to be a promising route for producing Rabi oscillators in solid-state materials.
Hermann
Raphaël P
RP
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-2200, USA.
Keppens
Veerle
V
Bonville
Pierre
P
Nolas
George S
GS
Grandjean
Fernande
F
Long
Gary J
GJ
Christen
Hans M
HM
Chakoumakos
Bryan C
BC
Sales
Brian C
BC
Mandrus
David
D