Berlin 2005 – scientific programme

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PV: Plenarvorträge

PV XV

PV XV: Plenary Talk

Wednesday, March 9, 2005, 08:30–09:30, TU H105

Quantum Tunneling of the Magnetization in Molecular Nanomagnets — •Myriam Sarachik — Dept. of Phys., CCNY-CUNY, Convent Ave & 138 St, New York, NY 10031, USA

Molecular nanomagnets, sometimes referred to as single molecule magnets, have attracted a great deal of recent attention for interesting behavior that is borderline between the classical and quantum mechanical regimes, and because of their potential usefulness for high-density data storage and quantum computation. Quantum mechanical processes are observed in these materials on a macroscopic scale in the form of steps in the magnetization curves. Two particularly simple prototypes, Mn12-acetate and Fe8, have been studied in great detail. Typical behavior of the class will be examined by considering Mn12-acetate: the structure of the molecule, the tetragonal (four-fold symmetric) crystal, the Hamiltonian that models the behavior, and the tunneling process that gives rise to the magnetization steps.