Physics – Condensed Matter – Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Scientific paper
2007-12-05
Physics
Condensed Matter
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
14 pages, 3 figures. Chapter in the Proceedings of the 2006 Les Houches summer school "Quantum Magnetism", ed. B. Barbara & Y.
Scientific paper
This mini-review presents a simple and accessible summary on the fascinating physics of quantum nanomagnets coupled to a nuclear spin bath. These chemically synthesized systems are an ideal test ground for the theories of decoherence in mesoscopic quantum degrees of freedom, when the coupling to the environment is local and not small. We shall focus here on the most striking quantum phenomenon that occurs in such nanomagnets, namely the tunneling of their giant spin through a high anisotropy barrier. It will be shown that perturbative treatments must be discarded, and replaced by a more sophisticated formalism where the dynamics of the nanomagnet and the nuclei that couple to it are treated together from the beginning. After a critical review of the theoretical predictions and their experimental verification, we continue with a set of experimental results that challenge our present understanding, and outline the importance of filling also this last gap in the theory.
No associations
LandOfFree
Quantum nanomagnets and nuclear spins: an overview does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Quantum nanomagnets and nuclear spins: an overview, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Quantum nanomagnets and nuclear spins: an overview will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-310179