Butterfly Hysteresis Loop and Dissipative Spin Reversal in the <span class="aps-inline-formula"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi mathvariant="italic">S</mi><mspace></mspace><mo>=</mo><mspace></mspace><mn>1</mn><mn></mn><mi>/</mi><mn>2</mn></math></span>, <span class="aps-inline-formula"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>V</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>15</mn></mrow></msub></mrow></math></span> Molecular Complex

I. Chiorescu; W. Wernsdorfer; A. Müller; H. Bögge; B. Barbara

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.3454

Butterfly Hysteresis Loop and Dissipative Spin Reversal in the $S = 1 / 2$ , $V_{15}$ Molecular Complex

I. Chiorescu, W. Wernsdorfer, A. Müller, H. Bögge, and B. Barbara

Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 3454 – Published 10 April 2000

Abstract

Time resolved magnetization measurements have been performed on a spin 1/2 molecular complex, so-called $V_{15}$ . Despite the absence of a barrier, magnetic hysteresis is observed over a time scale of several seconds. A detailed analysis in terms of a dissipative two-level model is given, in which fluctuations and splittings are of the same energy. Spin-phonon coupling leads to long relaxation times and to a particular “butterfly” hysteresis loop.