Magnetization relaxation in the single molecule magnet Ni${}_4$ under continuous microwave irradiation

Abstract

Spin relaxation between the two lowest-lying spin-states has been studied in the S=4 single molecule magnet Ni${}_4$ under steady state conditions of low amplitude and continuous microwave irradiation. The relaxation rate was determined as a function of temperature at two frequencies, 10 and 27.8 GHz, by simultaneously measuring the magnetization and the absorbed microwave power. A strong temperature dependence is observed below 1.5 K, which is not consistent with a direct single-spin-phonon relaxation process. The data instead suggest that the spin relaxation is dominated by a phonon bottleneck at low temperatures and occurs by an Orbach mechanism involving excited spin-levels at higher temperatures. Experimental results are compared with detailed calculations of the relaxation rate using the universal density matrix equation.

6 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Europhys. Lett

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