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Magnetic properties of iron clusters in a molecular beam: resolution of a controversy

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Zeitschrift für Physik D Atoms, Molecules and Clusters

Abstract

Magnetic properties of small iron clusters in a supersonic molecular beam are investigated. The magnetization is probed as function of magnetic field, temperature and cluster size. Temperatures are controlled by changing the source temperature (100 K to 500 K) and the expansion conditions. The clusters also may be heated in flight with light from a pulsed laser. Hot clusters are found to be superparamagnetic however cold clusters are not but show strongly reduced magnetization which furthermore is non-linear with the applied field. Experimentally it is found that the anomalies are related to the cluster rotations. We also address a controversy between our earlier findings [1] and those by Bucher et al. [2], and demonstrate that their temperature determinations and consequent conclusions are incorrect.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, PHB Ecublens, Institut de Physique Expérimentale, CH 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Isabelle M. L. Billas, Jörg A. Becker & Walt A. de Heer

Authors
  1. Isabelle M. L. Billas
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  2. Jörg A. Becker
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  3. Walt A. de Heer
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Billas, I.M.L., Becker, J.A. & de Heer, W.A. Magnetic properties of iron clusters in a molecular beam: resolution of a controversy. Z Phys D - Atoms, Molecules and Clusters 26, 325–327 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01429183

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01429183

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