Field-induced magnetoelastic instabilities in antiferromagnetic molecular wheels

Huge transverse magnetic polarization in the field-induced phase of the antiferromagnetic molecular wheel CsFe(8)

The 1H NMR spectrum and nuclear relaxation rate T(1)(-1) in the antiferromagnetic wheel CsFe8 were measured to characterize the previously observed magnetic field-induced low-temperature phase around the level crossing at 8 T. The data show that the phase is characterized by a huge staggered transverse polarization of the electronic Fe spins, and the opening of a gap, providing microscopic evidence for the interpretation of the phase as a field-induced magnetoelastic instability.

Mechanisms of spin-mixing instabilities in antiferromagnetic molecular wheels

The microscopic theory of field-induced spin-mixing instabilities in antiferromagnetic molecular wheels CsFe8 is proposed. The basic features of magnetic torque measurements [O. Waldmann, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 027206 (2006)] are well explained by the interplay of three basic ingredients: the spin-mixing vibronic interaction with field-dependent vibronic constants, cooperative elastic interactions, and spin-mixing interactions independent from vibrations. The main contribution to spin mixing comes from second-order zero-field splitting mechanisms. At variance with previous interpretations, we find that the observed anomalies are not associated with a phase transition.