Spin dynamics in novel rare-earth based single-molecule magnets

Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) are a class of metalorganic compounds in which each constituent molecule, containing magnetic atoms, possesses a giant and isolated resultant spin. Given that the giant spin exhibits easy-axis magnetic anisotropy, the magnetization reversal between the ground states is hindered by the potential barrier, yielding a slow magnetic relaxation that is characteristic of SMMs. In the beginning of SMM researches, SMMs containing multiple transition metal atoms such as Mn, Fe, and Ni, have been intensively studied. Recently, however, a new series of rare-earth based SMMs attracts much attention. In this talk, I will show our recent results on Tb-based SMMs. We have investigated the energy scheme by inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and the relaxation phenomena by quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) measurements. The mechanism of magnetization reversal through quantum tunneling in the Tb-based SMM will be discussed.