From field-induced to zero-field SMMs associated with open/closed structures of bis(ZnDy) tetranuclear complexes: a combined magnetic, theoretical and optical study

We have prepared a bis(compartmental) Mannich base ligand H4L (1,4,8,11-tetraaza-1,4,8,11-tetrakis(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methylbenzyl)cyclotetradecane) specifically designed to obtain bis(TMIILnIII) tetranuclear complexes (TM = transition metal). In this regard, we have succeeded in obtaining three new complexes of the formula [Zn2(μ-L)(μ-OAc)Dy2(NO3)2]·[Zn2(μ-L)(μ-OAc)Dy2(NO3)(OAc)]·4CHCl3·2MeOH (1) and [TM2(μ-H2L)2(μ-succinate)Ln2(NO3)2] (NO3)2·2H2O·6MeOH (TMII = Zn, LnIII = Dy (2); TMII = Co, LnIII = Dy (3)). Compound 1 contains two different bis(ZnDy) tetranuclear molecules that cocrystallize in the structure, in which acetato bridging ligands connect the ZnII and DyIII ions within each ZnDy subunit. This compound does not exhibit slow magnetic relaxation at zero field, but it is activated in the presence of an applied dc magnetic field and/or by Dy/Y magnetic dilution, showing two relaxation processes corresponding to each of the two different bis(ZnDy) units found in the structure. As revealed by the theoretical calculations, magnetic relaxation in 1 is single-ion in origin and takes place through the first excited state of each DyIII ion. When using the succinato dicarboxylate bridging ligand instead of acetate, compounds 2 and 3 were serendipitously formed, which have a closed structure with the succinate anion bridging two ZnDy subunits belonging to two different ligands. It should be noted that only compound 2 exhibits slow relaxation of magnetization in the absence of an external magnetic field. According to experimental and theoretical data, 2 relaxes through the second excited Kramers doublet (Ueff = 342 K). In contrast, 3 displays field-induced SMM behaviour (Ueff = 203 K). However, the Co/Zn diluted version of this compound 3Zn shows slow relaxation at zero field (Ueff = 347 K). Ab initio theoretical calculations clearly show that the weak ferromagnetic coupling between CoII and DyIII ions is at the origin of the lack of slow relaxation of this compound at zero field. Compound 2 and its diluted analogues 2Y and 3Zn show hysteresis loops at very low temperature, thus confirming their SMM behaviour. Finally, compounds 1 and 2 show DyIII based emission even at room temperature that, in the case of 2, allows us to extract the splitting of the ground 6H15/2 term, which matches reasonably well with theoretical calculations.

A correlated ferromagnetic polar metal by design

Polar metals have recently garnered increasing interest because of their promising functionalities. Here we report the experimental realization of an intrinsic coexisting ferromagnetism, polar distortion and metallicity in quasi-two-dimensional Ca3Co3O8. This material crystallizes with alternating stacking of oxygen tetrahedral CoO4 monolayers and octahedral CoO6 bilayers. The ferromagnetic metallic state is confined within the quasi-two-dimensional CoO6 layers, and the broken inversion symmetry arises simultaneously from the Co displacements. The breaking of both spatial-inversion and time-reversal symmetries, along with their strong coupling, gives rise to an intrinsic magnetochiral anisotropy with exotic magnetic field-free non-reciprocal electrical resistivity. An extraordinarily robust topological Hall effect persists over a broad temperature-magnetic field phase space, arising from dipole-induced Rashba spin-orbit coupling. Our work not only provides a rich platform to explore the coupling between polarity and magnetism in a metallic system, with extensive potential applications, but also defines a novel design strategy to access exotic correlated electronic states.

Pressure-tuned quantum criticality in the large-D antiferromagnet DTN

Strongly correlated spin systems can be driven to quantum critical points via various routes. In particular, gapped quantum antiferromagnets can undergo phase transitions into a magnetically ordered state with applied pressure or magnetic field, acting as tuning parameters. These transitions are characterized by z = 1 or z = 2 dynamical critical exponents, determined by the linear and quadratic low-energy dispersion of spin excitations, respectively. Employing high-frequency susceptibility and ultrasound techniques, we demonstrate that the tetragonal easy-plane quantum antiferromagnet NiCl2 ⋅ 4SC(NH2)2 (aka DTN) undergoes a spin-gap closure transition at about 4.2 kbar, resulting in a pressure-induced magnetic ordering. The studies are complemented by high-pressure-electron spin-resonance measurements confirming the proposed scenario. Powder neutron diffraction measurements revealed that no lattice distortion occurs at this pressure and the high spin symmetry is preserved, establishing DTN as a perfect platform to investigate z = 1 quantum critical phenomena. The experimental observations are supported by DMRG calculations, allowing us to quantitatively describe the pressure-driven evolution of critical fields and spin-Hamiltonian parameters in DTN.

Field-induced bound-state condensation and spin-nematic phase in SrCu2(BO3)2 revealed by neutron scattering up to 25.9 T

In quantum magnetic materials, ordered phases induced by an applied magnetic field can be described as the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of magnon excitations. In the strongly frustrated system SrCu2(BO3)2, no clear magnon BEC could be observed, pointing to an alternative mechanism, but the high fields required to probe this physics have remained a barrier to detailed investigation. Here we exploit the first purpose-built high-field neutron scattering facility to measure the spin excitations of SrCu2(BO3)2 up to 25.9 T and use cylinder matrix-product-states (MPS) calculations to reproduce the experimental spectra with high accuracy. Multiple unconventional features point to a condensation of S = 2 bound states into a spin-nematic phase, including the gradients of the one-magnon branches and the persistence of a one-magnon spin gap. This gap reflects a direct analogy with superconductivity, suggesting that the spin-nematic phase in SrCu2(BO3)2 is best understood as a condensate of bosonic Cooper pairs.

Observation of interplay between phonon chirality and electronic band topology

The recently demonstrated chiral modes of lattice motion carry angular momentum and therefore directly couple to magnetic fields. Notably, their magnetic moments are predicted to be strongly influenced by electronic contributions. Here, we have studied the magnetic response of transverse optical phonons in a set of Pb1-xSnxTe films, which is a topological crystalline insulator for x > 0.32 and has a ferroelectric transition at an x-dependent critical temperature. Polarization-dependent terahertz magnetospectroscopy measurements revealed Zeeman splittings and diamagnetic shifts, demonstrating a large phonon magnetic moment. Films in the topological phase exhibited phonon magnetic moment values that were larger than those in the topologically trivial samples by two orders of magnitude. Furthermore, the sign of the effective phonon g-factor was opposite in the two phases, a signature of the topological transition according to our model. These results strongly indicate the existence of interplay between the magnetic properties of chiral phonons and the topology of the electronic band structure.

Zero-Field SMM Behavior Triggered by Magnetic Exchange Interactions and a Collinear Arrangement of Local Anisotropy Axes in a Linear Co3II Complex

A new linear trinuclear Co(II)3 complex with a formula of [{Co(μ-L)}2Co] has been prepared by self-assembly of Co(II) ions and the N3O3-tripodal Schiff base ligand H3L, which is obtained from the condensation of 1,1,1-tris(aminomethyl)ethane and salicylaldehyde. Single X-ray diffraction shows that this compound is centrosymmetric with triple-phenolate bridging groups connecting neighboring Co(II) ions, leading to a paddle-wheel-like structure with a pseudo-C3 axis lying in the Co-Co-Co direction. The Co(II) ions at both ends of the Co(II)3 molecule exhibit distorted trigonal prismatic CoN3O3 geometry, whereas the Co(II) at the middle presents an elongated trigonal antiprismatic CoO6 geometry. The combined analysis of the magnetic data and theoretical calculations reveal strong easy-axis magnetic anisotropy for both types of Co(II) ions (|D| values higher than 115 cm-1) with the local anisotropic axes lying on the pseudo-C3 axis of the molecule. The magnetic exchange interaction between the middle and ends Co(II) ions, extracted by using either a Hamiltonian accounting for the isotropic magnetic coupling and ZFS or the Lines' model, was found to be medium to strong and antiferromagnetic in nature, whereas the interaction between the external Co(II) ions is weak antiferromagnetic. Interestingly, the compound exhibits slow relaxation of magnetization and open hysteresis at zero field and therefore SMM behavior. The significant magnetic exchange coupling found for [{Co(μ-L)}2Co] is mainly responsible for the quenching of QTM, which combined with the easy-axis local anisotropy of the CoII ions and the collinearity of their local anisotropy axes with the pseudo-C3 axis favors the observation of SMM behavior at zero field.

Odd and Even Numbered Ferric Wheels

The structurally related odd and even numbered wheels [FeIII 11 ZnII 4 (tea)10 (teaH)1 (OMe)Cl8 ] (1) and [FeIII 12 ZnII 4 (tea)12 Cl8 ] (2) can be synthesized under ambient conditions by reacting FeIII and ZnII salts with triethanolamine (teaH3 ), the change in nuclearity being dictated by the solvents employed. An antiferromagnetic exchange between nearest neighbors, J = -10.0 cm-1 for 1 and J = -12.0 cm-1 for 2, leads to a frustrated S = 1/2 ground state in the former and an S = 0 ground state in the latter.

Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with an in situ tunable magnetic field

Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) is a powerful tool for probing the momentum-resolved single-particle spectral function of materials. Historically, in situ magnetic fields have been carefully avoided as they are detrimental to the control of photoelectron trajectory during the photoelectron detection process. However, magnetic field is an important experimental knob for both probing and tuning symmetry-breaking phases and electronic topology in quantum materials. In this paper, we introduce an easily implementable method for realizing an in situ tunable magnetic field at the sample position in an ARPES experiment and analyze magnetic-field-induced artifacts in the ARPES data. Specifically, we identified and quantified three distinct extrinsic effects of a magnetic field: constant energy contour rotation, emission angle contraction, and momentum broadening. We examined these effects in three prototypical quantum materials, i.e., a topological insulator (Bi2Se3), an iron-based superconductor (LiFeAs), and a cuprate superconductor (Pb-Bi2Sr2CuO6+x), and demonstrate the feasibility of ARPES measurements in the presence of a controllable magnetic field. Our studies lay the foundation for the future development of the technique and interpretation of ARPES measurements of field-tunable quantum phases.

Dual-radical-based molecular anisotropy and synergy effect of semi-conductivity and valence tautomerization in a photoswitchable coordination polymer

Organic radicals are widely used as linkers or ligands to synthesize molecular magnetic materials. However, studies regarding the molecular anisotropies of radical-based magnetic materials and their multifunctionalities are rare. Herein, a photoisomerizable diarylethene ligand was used to form {[Co^III(3,5-DTSQ^·-)(3,5-DTCat^2-)]₂(6F-DAE-py₂)}·3CH₃CN·H₂O (o-1·3CH₃CN·H₂O, 6F-DAE-py₂ = 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-(4-pyridyl)-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene), a valence-tautomeric (VT) coordination polymer. We directly observed dual radicals for a single crystal using high-field/-frequency (∼13.3 T and ∼360 GHz) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy along the c-axis, which was further confirmed by angle-dependent Q-band EPR spectroscopy. Moreover, a conductive anomaly close to the VT transition temperature was observed only when probes were attached at the ab plane of the single crystal, indicative of synergy between valence tautomerism and conductivity. Structural anisotropy studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that this synergy is due to electron transfer associated with valence tautomerism. This study presents the first example of dual-radical-based molecular anisotropy and charge-transfer-induced conductive anisotropy in a photoswitchable coordination polymer.

Pushing up the easy-axis magnetic anisotropy and relaxation times in trigonal prismatic CoII mononuclear SMMs by molecular structure design

The replacement of pyridine by 1-methyl-imidazol in the arms of a N₆-tripodal ligand allows preparing two new Co^II complexes with quasi-ideal triangular prismatic geometry, which behave as SIMs (Single Ion Magnets) at zero dc field with enhanced axial magnetic anisotropy, magnetic relaxation times and magnetic hysteresis.

{ScnGdn} Heterometallic Rings: Tunable Ring Topology for Spin-Wave Excitations

Data carriers using spin waves in spintronic and magnonic logic devices offer operation at low power consumption and free of Joule heating yet requiring noncollinear spin structures of small sizes. Heterometallic rings can provide such an opportunity due to the controlled spin-wave transmission within such a confined space. Here, we present a series of {Sc_nGd_n} (n = 4, 6, 8) heterometallic rings, which are the first Sc-Ln clusters to date, with tunable magnetic interactions for spin-wave excitations. By means of time- and temperature-dependent spin dynamics simulations, we are able to predict distinct spin-wave excitations at finite temperatures for Sc₄Gd₄, Sc₆Gd₆, and Sc₈Gd₈. Such a new model is previously unexploited, especially due to the interplay of antiferromagnetic exchange, dipole-dipole interaction, and ring topology at low temperatures, rendering the importance of the latter to spin-wave excitations.

Multi-extreme conditions at the Second Target Station

Three concepts for the application of multi-extreme conditions under in situ neutron scattering are described here. The first concept is a neutron diamond anvil cell made from a non-magnetic alloy. It is shrunk in size to fit existing magnets and future magnet designs and is designed for best pressure stability upon cooling. This will allow for maximum pressures above 10 GPa to be applied simultaneously with (steady-state) high magnetic field and (ultra-)low temperature. Additionally, an implementation of miniature coils for neutron diamond cells is presented for pulsed-field applications. The second concept presents a set-up for laser-heating a neutron diamond cell using a defocused CO₂ laser. Cell, anvil, and gasket stability will be achieved through stroboscopic measurements and maximum temperatures of 1500 K are anticipated at pressures to the megabar. The third concept presents a hybrid levitator to enable measurements of solids and liquids at temperatures in excess of 4000 K. This will be accomplished by a combination of bulk induction and surface laser heating and hyperbaric conditions to reduce evaporation rates. The potential for deployment of these multi-extreme environments within this first instrument suite of the Second Target Station is described with a special focus on VERDI, PIONEER, CENTAUR, and CHESS. Furthermore, considerations for deployment on future instruments, such as the one proposed as TITAN, are discussed. Overall, the development of these multi-extremes at the Second Target Station, but also beyond, will be highly advantageous for future experimentation and will give access to parameter space previously not possible for neutron scattering.

Magnetic Control of Soft Chiral Phonons in PbTe

PbTe crystals have a soft transverse optical phonon mode in the terahertz frequency range, which is known to efficiently decay into heat-carrying acoustic phonons, resulting in anomalously low thermal conductivity. Here, we studied this phonon via polarization-dependent terahertz spectroscopy. We observed softening of this mode with decreasing temperature, indicative of incipient ferroelectricity, which we explain through a model including strong anharmonicity with a quartic displacement term. In magnetic fields up to 25 T, the phonon mode splits into two modes with opposite handedness, exhibiting circular dichroism. Their frequencies display Zeeman splitting together with an overall diamagnetic shift with increasing magnetic field. Using a group-theoretical approach, we demonstrate that these observations are the result of magnetic field-induced morphic changes in the crystal symmetries through the Lorentz force exerted on the lattice ions. Thus, our Letter reveals a novel process of controlling phonon properties in a soft ionic lattice by a strong magnetic field.

Characterization of photoinduced normal state through charge density wave in superconducting YBa2Cu3O6.67

The normal state of high-T_c cuprates has been considered one of the essential topics in high-temperature superconductivity research. However, compared to the high magnetic field study of it, understanding a photoinduced normal state remains elusive. Here, we explore a photoinduced normal state of YBa₂Cu₃O_6.67 through a charge density wave (CDW) with time-resolved resonant soft x-ray scattering, as well as a high magnetic field x-ray scattering. In the nonequilibrium state where people predict a quenched superconducting state based on the previous optical spectroscopies, we experimentally observed a similar analogy to the competition between superconductivity and CDW shown in the equilibrium state. We further observe that the broken pairing states in the superconducting CuO₂ plane via the optical pump lead to nucleation of three-dimensional CDW precursor correlation. Ultimately, these findings provide a critical clue that the characteristics of the photoinduced normal state show a solid resemblance to those under magnetic fields in equilibrium conditions.

Large easy-axis magnetic anisotropy in a series of trigonal prismatic mononuclear cobalt (II) complexes with zero-field hidden single-molecule magnet behaviour: The important role of the distortion of the coordination sphere and intermolecular interactions on the slow relaxation

The complexes [Co(L)]X·S (X = CoCl42- , S = CH3CN (1); X = ZnCl42- , S = CH3OH (2)), [Co(L)]X2·S (X = ClO4-, S = 2CH3OH (3) and X =...

X-ray study of ferroic octupole order producing anomalous Hall effect

Recently found anomalous Hall, Nernst, magnetooptical Kerr, and spin Hall effects in the antiferromagnets Mn3X (X = Sn, Ge) are attracting much attention for spintronics and energy harvesting. Since these materials are antiferromagnets, the origin of these functionalities is expected to be different from that of conventional ferromagnets. Here, we report the observation of ferroic order of magnetic octupole in Mn3Sn by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, which is only predicted theoretically so far. The observed signals are clearly decoupled with the behaviors of uniform magnetization, indicating that the present X-ray magnetic circular dichroism is not arising from the conventional magnetization. We have found that the appearance of this anomalous signal coincides with the time reversal symmetry broken cluster magnetic octupole order. Our study demonstrates that the exotic material functionalities are closely related to the multipole order, which can produce unconventional cross correlation functionalities.

Ultrastrong magnon-magnon coupling dominated by antiresonant interactions

Exotic quantum vacuum phenomena are predicted in cavity quantum electrodynamics systems with ultrastrong light-matter interactions. Their ground states are predicted to be vacuum squeezed states with suppressed quantum fluctuations owing to antiresonant terms in the Hamiltonian. However, such predictions have not been realized because antiresonant interactions are typically negligible compared to resonant interactions in light-matter systems. Here we report an unusual, ultrastrongly coupled matter-matter system of magnons that is analytically described by a unique Hamiltonian in which the relative importance of resonant and antiresonant interactions can be easily tuned and the latter can be made vastly dominant. We found a regime where vacuum Bloch-Siegert shifts, the hallmark of antiresonant interactions, greatly exceed analogous frequency shifts from resonant interactions. Further, we theoretically explored the system’s ground state and calculated up to 5.9 dB of quantum fluctuation suppression. These observations demonstrate that magnonic systems provide an ideal platform for exploring exotic quantum vacuum phenomena predicted in ultrastrongly coupled light-matter systems.

Ultrastrong light-matter interactions with dominant antiresonant terms are expected to give rise to interesting phenomena such as quantum fluctuation suppression. Here, the authors propose a system of ultrastrongly coupled magnon modes in a rare earth orthoferrite as a platform for exploring such phenomena.

A giant spin molecule with ninety-six parallel unpaired electrons

Unpaired electrons which are essential for organic radicals and magnetic materials are hardly to align parallel, especially upon the increasing of spin numbers. Here, we show that the antiferromagnetic interaction in the largest Cr(III)-RE (rare earth) cluster {Cr₁₀RE₁₈} leads to 96 parallel electrons, forming a ground spin state S_T of 48 for RE = Gd. This is so far the third largest ground spin state achieved in one molecule. Moreover, by using the classical Monte Carlo simulation, the exchange coupling constants Jij can be determined. Spin dynamics simulation reveals that the strong Zeeman effects of 18 Gd(III) ions stabilize the ground ferrimagnetic state and hinder the magnetization reversals of these spins. In addition, the dysprosium(III) analog is an exchange-biasing single-molecule magnet. We believe that the ferrimagnetic approach and analytical protocol established in this work can be applied generally in constructing and analyzing giant spin molecules.

•

The largest {Cr₁₀RE₁₈} molecular clusters were assembled for RE = Gd, Dy, and Y

•

The {Cr₁₀Gd₁₈} cluster shows a large ground spin state of S_T = 48

•

The exchange coupling constants were determined by Classical Monte Carlo simulation

•

Spin dynamics simulation reveals a ferrimagnetic ground state of {Cr₁₀Gd₁₈}.

The Forced Magnetostrictions and Magnetic Properties of Ni2MnX (X = In, Sn) Ferromagnetic Heusler Alloys

Experimental studies into the forced magnetostriction, magnetization, and temperature dependence of permeability in Ni₂MnIn and Ni₂MnSn ferromagnetic Heusler alloys were performed according to the spin fluctuation theory of itinerant ferromagnetism proposed by Takahashi. We investigated the magnetic field (H) dependence of magnetization (M) at the Curie temperature T_C, and at T = 4.2 K, which concerns the ground state of the ferromagnetic state. The M-H result at T_C was analyzed by means of the H versus M⁵ dependence. At 4.2 K, it was investigated by means of an Arrott plot (H/M vs. M²) according to Takahashi’s theory. As for Ni₂MnIn and Ni₂MnSn, the spin fluctuation parameters in k-space (momentum space, T_A) and that in energy space (frequency space, T₀) obtained at T_C and 4.2 K were almost the same. The average values obtained at T_C and 4.2 K were T_A = 342 K, T₀ = 276 K for Ni₂MnIn and T_A = 447 K, T₀ = 279 K for Ni₂MnSn, respectively. The forced magnetostriction at T_C was also investigated. The forced linear magnetostriction (ΔL/L) and the forced volume magnetostriction (ΔV/V) were proportional to M⁴, which followed Takahashi’s theory. We compared the forced volume magnetostriction ΔV/V and mechanical parameter, bulk modulus K. ΔV/V is inversely proportional to K. We also discuss the spin polarization of Ni₂MnIn and other magnetic Heusler alloys. The p_C/p_S of Ni₂MnIn was 0.860. This is comparable with that of Co₂MnGa, which is a famous half-metallic alloy.

A Ferromagnetically Coupled Octanuclear Manganese(III) Cluster: A Single-Molecule Magnet with a Spin Ground State of S = 16

An octanuclear manganese complex, [Mn^III₈(μ₄-O)₄(L)₄(OMe)₄(OAc)₄(OCH₂CH₂NH₃)₄] [1; H₂L = 3-(dimethoxymethyl)-2-hydroxybenzoic acid], was synthesized with an extended cubane core structure consisting of eight Mn ions bridged by O atoms. Cryomagnetic studies revealed that 1 showed a single-molecule-magnet behavior with an S = 16 spin ground state.

Randomly Hopping Majorana Fermions in the Diluted Kitaev System α-Ru_{0.8}Ir_{0.2}Cl_{3}

dc and ac magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, specific heat, and Raman scattering measurements are combined to probe low-lying spin excitations in α-Ru_{1-x}Ir_{x}Cl_{3} (x≈0.2), which realizes a disordered spin liquid. At intermediate energies (ℏω>3  meV), Raman spectroscopy evidences linearly ω-dependent Majorana-like excitations, obeying Fermi statistics. This points to robustness of a Kitaev paramagnetic state under spin vacancies. At low energies below 3 meV, we observe power-law dependences and quantum-critical-like scalings of the thermodynamic quantities, implying the presence of a weakly divergent low-energy density of states. This scaling phenomenology is interpreted in terms of the random hoppings of Majorana fermions. Our results demonstrate an emergent hierarchy of spin excitations in a diluted Kitaev honeycomb system subject to spin vacancies and bond randomness.

The effect of the electronic structure and flexibility of the counteranions on magnetization relaxation in [Dy(L)2(H2O)5]3+ (L = phosphine oxide derivative) pentagonal bipyramidal SIMs

The effects of the electronic structure and flexibility of triflate anions in a new high-U_eff TBPY-7 SMM, [Dy(OPCy₃)₂(H₂O)₅](CF₃SO₃)₃·2OPCy₃, have been analyzed.

Tuning magnetic anisotropy by the π-bonding features of the axial ligands and the electronic effects of gold(i) atoms in 2D {Co(L)2[Au(CN)2]2}n metal–organic frameworks with field-induced single-ion magnet behaviour

Au^I atoms play an important role in determining the anisotropy of Co^II nodes in 2D Au^I–Co^II field-induced SIMs.

An [FeIII 34 ] Molecular Metal Oxide

The dissolution of anhydrous iron bromide in a mixture of pyridine and acetonitrile, in the presence of an organic amine, results in the formation of an [Fe₃₄] metal oxide molecule, structurally characterised by alternate layers of tetrahedral and octahedral Fe^III ions connected by oxide and hydroxide ions. The outer shell of the complex is capped by a combination of pyridine molecules and bromide ions. Magnetic data, measured at temperatures as low as 0.4 K and fields up to 35 T, reveal competing antiferromagnetic exchange interactions; DFT calculations showing that the magnitudes of the coupling constants are highly dependent on both the Fe‐O‐Fe angles and Fe−O distances. The simplicity of the synthetic methodology, and the structural similarity between [Fe₃₄], bulk iron oxides, previous Fe^III–oxo cages, and polyoxometalates (POMs), hints that much larger molecular Fe^III oxides can be made.

Triplet Diradical-Cation Salts Consisting of the Phenothiazine Radical Cation and a Nitronyl Nitroxide

The spin-spin and magnetic properties of two (nitronyl nitroxide)-(di-p-anisylamine-phenothiazine) diradical cation salts, (DAA-PTZ)⁺ -NN⋅MBr₄ ^- (M=Ga, Fe), have been investigated. These diradical-cation species were prepared by the cross-coupling of iodophenothiazine DAA-PTZ-I with NN-AuPPh₃ followed by oxidation with the thianthrenium radical cation (TA⁺ ⋅MBr₄ ^- ). These salts were found to be highly stable under aerobic conditions. For the GaBr₄ salt, large ferromagnetic intramolecular and small antiferromagnetic intermolecular interactions (J₁ /k_B =+320 K and J₂ /k_B =-2 K, respectively) were observed. The magnetic property of the Fe³⁺ salt was analyzed by using a six-spin model assuming identical intramolecular exchange interaction (J₃ /k_B =+320 K) and the other exchange interactions (J₄ /k_B =-7 K and J₅ /k_B =-4 K). A significant color change was observed in the UV/Vis/NIR absorption spectra upon electrochemical oxidation of the doublet DAA-PTZ-NN to the triplet (DAA-PTZ)⁺ -NN.

Pressure-tuning the quantum spin Hamiltonian of the triangular lattice antiferromagnet Cs2CuCl4

Quantum triangular-lattice antiferromagnets are important prototype systems to investigate numerous phenomena of the geometrical frustration in condensed matter. Apart from highly unusual magnetic properties, they possess a rich phase diagram (ranging from an unfrustrated square lattice to a quantum spin liquid), yet to be confirmed experimentally. One major obstacle in this area of research is the lack of materials with appropriate (ideally tuned) magnetic parameters. Using Cs₂CuCl₄ as a model system, we demonstrate an alternative approach, where, instead of the chemical composition, the spin Hamiltonian is altered by hydrostatic pressure. The approach combines high-pressure electron spin resonance and r.f. susceptibility measurements, allowing us not only to quasi-continuously tune the exchange parameters, but also to accurately monitor them. Our experiments indicate a substantial increase of the exchange coupling ratio from 0.3 to 0.42 at a pressure of 1.8 GPa, revealing a number of emergent field-induced phases.

Theoretical studies of quantum magnetism typically assume idealised lattices with freely tunable parameters, which are difficult to realise experimentally. Zvyagin et al. perform challenging measurements at high pressures to tune and to accurately monitor the exchange parameters of a triangular lattice antiferromagnet.

A Chiral Bipyrimidine-Bridged Dy2 SMM: A Comparative Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Correlation Between the Distortion of the DyO6N2 Coordination Sphere and the Anisotropy Barrier

Chiral bipyrimidine-bridged dinuclear Ln^III complexes of general formula [(μ-bipym){((+)-tfacam)₃Ln}₂] and [(μ-bipym){((-)-tfacam)₃Ln}₂], have been prepared from the assembly of Ln(AcO)₃·nH₂O (Ln^III = Dy, Gd), (+)/(−)-3-(trifluoroacetyl)camphor enantiopure ligands ((+)/(-)-Htfacam) and bipyrimidine (bipym). The structure and chirality of these complexes have been supported by single-crystal X-Ray diffraction and circular dichroism. The study of the magnetic properties of the Gd^III complexes revealed a very weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the Gd^III ions through the bipyrimidine bridging ligand. Ab initio CASSCF calculations indicated that the ground Kramers doublet (KD) of both Dy^III centers is almost purely axial with the anisotropy axis located close to the two tfacam⁻ligands at opposite sides of each Dy^IIIatom, which create an axial crystal field. In keeping with this, ac dynamic measurements indicated slow relaxation of the magnetization at zero field with U_eff = 55.1 K, a pre-exponential factor of τ_o = 2.17·10⁻⁶ s and τ_QTM = 8 μs. When an optimal dc field of 0.1 T is applied, QTM is quenched and U_eff increases to 75.9 K with τ_o = 6.16 × 10⁻⁷ s. The DyN₂O₈ coordination spheres and SMM properties of [(μ-bipym){((+)-tfacam)₃Ln}₂] and their achiral [(Dy(β-diketonate)₃)₂(μ-bpym)]analogous have been compared and a magneto-structural correlation has been established, which has been supported by theoretical calculations. In contrast to the Gd^III compounds, the magnetic exchange interaction between the Dy^III ions has been calculated to be very weak and, generally, ferromagnetic in nature. Relaxation mechanisms for [(μ-bipym){((+)-tfacam)₃Ln}₂] and previously reported analogous have been proposed from ab initio calculations. As the magnetic exchange interaction found to be very weak, the observed magnetization blockade in these systems are primarily dictated by the single ion anisotropy of Dy^III ions.

Development and application of 2.5 GPa-25 T high-pressure high-field electron spin resonance system using a cryogen-free superconducting magnet

We have developed a high-pressure electron spin resonance probe and successfully installed into the world's highest-field cryogen-free superconducting magnet having a maximum central field of 24.6 T. The high pressure of 2.5 GPa is achieved by the specially designed piston-cylinder pressure cell using THz-wave-transparent components. In the first application of this high-pressure high-field ESR system, we observed that the orthogonal dimer spin system SrCu₂(BO₃)₂ undergoes a quantum phase transition from the dimer singlet ground to the plaquette singlet ground states.

Slow Magnetic Relaxation in a Palladium-Gadolinium Complex Induced by Electron Density Donation from the Palladium Ion

Incorporating palladium in the first coordination sphere of acetato-bridged lanthanoid complexes, [Pd₂ Ln₂ (H₂ O)₂ (AcO)₁₀ ]⋅2 AcOH (Ln=Gd (1), Y (2), Gd_0.4 Y_1.6 (3), Eu (4)), led to significant bonding interactions between the palladium and the lanthanoid ions, which were demonstrated by experimental and theoretical methods. We found that electron density was donated from the d⁸ Pd²⁺ ion to Gd³⁺ ion in 1 and 3, leading to the observed slow magnetic relaxation by using local orbital locator (LOL) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) analysis. Field-induced dual slow magnetic relaxation was observed for 1 up to 20 K. Complex 3 and frozen aqueous and acetonitrile solutions of 1 showed only one relaxation peak, which confirms the role of intermolecular dipolar interactions in slowing the magnetic relaxation of 1. The slow magnetic relaxation occurred through a combination of Orbach and Direct processes with the highest pre-exponential factor (τ_o =0.06 s) reported so far for a gadolinium complex exhibiting slow magnetic relaxation. The results revealed that transition metal-lanthanoid (TM-Ln) axial interactions indeed could lead to new physical properties by affecting both the electronic and magnetic states of the compounds.

Rationalization of single-molecule magnet behavior in a three-coordinate Fe(iii) complex with a high-spin state (S = 5/2)

A trigonal-planar Fe(iii) complex Fe[N(SiMe₃)₂]₃ with a high spin state (S = 5/2) was investigated by magnetic and HF-EPR measurements, exhibiting distinct dynamic magnetic behaviour.

Signatures of a magnetic field-induced unconventional nematic liquid in the frustrated and anisotropic spin-chain cuprate LiCuSbO4

Modern theories of quantum magnetism predict exotic multipolar states in weakly interacting strongly frustrated spin-1/2 Heisenberg chains with ferromagnetic nearest neighbor (NN) inchain exchange in high magnetic fields. Experimentally these states remained elusive so far. Here we report strong indications of a magnetic field-induced nematic liquid arising above a field of ~13 T in the edge-sharing chain cuprate LiSbCuO₄ ≡ LiCuSbO₄. This interpretation is based on the observation of a field induced spin-gap in the measurements of the ⁷Li NMR spin relaxation rate T ₁^-1 as well as a contrasting field-dependent power-law behavior of T ₁^-1 vs. T and is further supported by static magnetization and ESR data. An underlying theoretical microscopic approach favoring a nematic scenario is based essentially on the NN XYZ exchange anisotropy within a model for frustrated spin-1/2 chains and is investigated by the DMRG technique. The employed exchange parameters are justified qualitatively by electronic structure calculations for LiCuSbO₄.

Chemical reaction within a compact non-porous crystal containing molecular clusters without the loss of crystallinity

A yellow crystal with {FeII4O₄} cubes is modified to a black crystal with {FeIII4O₄} cubes via a SC–SC transformation.

The very rare occurrence of a gas–solid chemical reaction has been found to take place on a molecule within a compact non-porous crystal without destroying its long-range structural order and retaining similar crystal structures when yellow crystals of FeII4(mbm)₄Cl₄(MeOH)₄ were exposed to air to give black [FeIII4(mbm)₄Cl₄(OH)₄]·2H₂O. The latter cannot be synthesised directly. The original cluster underwent an exchange of methanol to hydroxide, an oxidation of Fe(ii) to Fe(iii), a change in stereochemistry and hydration while the packing and space-group remained unaltered.

Giant Exchange Coupling Evidenced with a Magnetization Jump at 52 T for a Gadolinium-Nitroxide Chelate

The Gd-radical complex [Gd^III(hfac)₃(6bpyNO)] (6bpyNO = 2,2'-bipyridin-6-yl tert-butyl nitroxide; Hhfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dione) showed a magnetization jump at 52 T observed in a pulsed-field facility, corresponding to an exchange coupling constant of -17.4 K. Furthermore, hysteretic behavior due to a relatively slow magnetization reversal was recorded around 2 T. From the high-frequency EPR study, the exchange coupling between Gd and radical spins accompanies an anisotropic character, which is responsible for both the broad jump and the slow magnetization reversal.

Search for Two-Photon Interaction with Axionlike Particles Using High-Repetition Pulsed Magnets and Synchrotron X Rays

We report on new results of a search for a two-photon interaction with axionlike particles (ALPs). The experiment is carried out at a synchrotron radiation facility using a "light shining through a wall (LSW)" technique. For this purpose, we develop a novel pulsed-magnet system, composed of multiple racetrack magnets and a transportable power supply. It produces fields of about 10 T over 0.8 m with a high repetition rate of 0.2 Hz and yields a new method of probing a vacuum with high intensity fields. The data obtained with a total of 27 676 pulses provide a limit on the ALP-two-photon coupling constant that is more stringent by a factor of 5.2 compared to a previous x-ray LSW limit for the ALP mass ≲0.1  eV.

Single-shot terahertz time-domain spectroscopy in pulsed high magnetic fields

We have developed a single-shot terahertz time-domain spectrometer to perform optical-pump/terahertz-probe experiments in pulsed, high magnetic fields up to 30 T. The single-shot detection scheme for measuring a terahertz waveform incorporates a reflective echelon to create time-delayed beamlets across the intensity profile of the optical gate beam before it spatially and temporally overlaps with the terahertz radiation in a ZnTe detection crystal. After imaging the gate beam onto a camera, we can retrieve the terahertz time-domain waveform by analyzing the resulting image. To demonstrate the utility of our technique, we measured cyclotron resonance absorption of optically excited carriers in the terahertz frequency range in intrinsic silicon at high magnetic fields, with results that agree well with published values.

Field-induced spin-density wave beyond hidden order in URu2Si2

URu₂Si₂ is one of the most enigmatic strongly correlated electron systems and offers a fertile testing ground for new concepts in condensed matter science. In spite of >30 years of intense research, no consensus on the order parameter of its low-temperature hidden-order phase exists. A strong magnetic field transforms the hidden order into magnetically ordered phases, whose order parameter has also been defying experimental observation. Here, thanks to neutron diffraction under pulsed magnetic fields up to 40 T, we identify the field-induced phases of URu₂Si₂ as a spin-density-wave state. The transition to the spin-density wave represents a unique touchstone for understanding the hidden-order phase. An intimate relationship between this magnetic structure, the magnetic fluctuations and the Fermi surface is emphasized, calling for dedicated band-structure calculations.

The strongly-correlated electron system URu₂Si₂ possesses a hidden-order phase whose order parameter remains unidentified. Here, the authors demonstrate the development of spin-density-wave phases in URu₂Si₂ under high magnetic fields, providing a potential in-road to understanding this system.