title: Three-leaf quantum interference clovers in a trigonal single-molecule magnet.
abstract: We report on a single-molecule magnet where the spatial arrangement of three manganese ions and their spin-orbit coupling tensor orientations result in threefold angular modulations of the magnetization tunneling rates and quantum interference patterns that mimic the form of a three-leaf clover. Although expected in all quantum tunneling of magnetization resonances for a trigonal molecular symmetry, the threefold modulation only appears at resonances for which a longitudinal magnetic field is applied (i.e., resonance numbers |k|>0). A sixfold transverse field modulation observed at resonance k = 0 manifests as a direct consequence of a threefold corrugation of the spin-orbit coupling energy landscape, creating an effective longitudinal field which varies the resonance condition in the presence of a transverse field. The observations allow for an association between the trigonal distortion of the local spin-orbit interactions and the spatial disposition of the constituent ions, a finding that can be extrapolated to other systems where spin-orbit coupling plays a significant role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32765, USA.
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.affiliation: EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, The University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Inglis
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32765, USA.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: del Barco
authors.affiliation: EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, The University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Euan K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Brechin