Probing spin frustration in high-symmetry magnetic nanomolecules by inelastic neutron scattering

Low temperature inelastic neutron scattering studies have been performed to characterize the low energy magnetic excitation spectrum of the magnetic nanomolecule {Mo(72)Fe(30)}. This unique highly symmetric cluster features spin frustration and is one of the largest discrete magnetic molecules studied to date by inelastic neutron scattering.

The 30 s=5/2 Fe(III) ions, embedded in a spherical polyoxomolybdate molecule, occupy the vertices of an icosidodecahedron and are coupled via nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic interactions. The overall energy scale of the excitation and the gross features of the temperature dependence of the observed neutron scattering are explained by a quantum model of the frustrated spin cluster.

However, no satisfactory theoretical explanation is yet available for the observed magnetic field dependence.