Direct Observation by Neutron Diffraction of Antiferromagnetic Ordering in s Electrons Confined in Regular Nanospace of Sodalite

Takehito Nakano, Masato Matsuura, Atsufumi Hanazawa, Kazuma Hirota, and Yasuo Nozue
Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 167208 – Published 17 October 2012

Abstract

Sodium clusters formed in the regular nanospace of sodalite (aluminosilicate zeolite) are known to show antiferromagnetic order without any magnetic elements. The clusters are arrayed in a body centered cubic structure. We have performed a neutron diffraction study and succeeded in detecting the magnetic Bragg peaks of the s-electron spins for the first time. The observation of both 001 and 111 magnetic reflections confirms the antiferromagnetic order with the antiparallel coupling between the nearest neighbor clusters. The magnetic form factor was examined by analyzing the intensity ratios of the magnetic and nuclear Bragg peaks. The result is in good agreement with the shape of the s-electron wave function derived from theoretical studies of the sodium nanoclusters in the cages.

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  • Received 29 August 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.167208

© 2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Takehito Nakano1,*, Masato Matsuura2,†, Atsufumi Hanazawa1, Kazuma Hirota2, and Yasuo Nozue1

  • 1Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
  • 2Department of Earth and Space Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Osaka 560-0043, Japan

  • *nakano@phys.sci.osaka-u.ac.jp
  • Present address: Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Katahira, Sendai 980-8577, Japan.

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Vol. 109, Iss. 16 — 19 October 2012

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