Onset of a Propagating Self-Sustained Spin Reversal Front in a Magnetic System

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Onset of a Propagating Self-Sustained Spin Reversal Front in a Magnetic System

P. Subedi, S. Vélez, F. Macià, S. Li, M. P. Sarachik, J. Tejada, S. Mukherjee, G. Christou, and A. D. Kent

Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 207203 – Published 13 May 2013

See Viewpoint: Fire in a Quantum Mechanical Forest

Abstract

The energy released in a magnetic material by reversing spins as they relax toward equilibrium can lead to a dynamical instability that ignites self-sustained rapid relaxation along a deflagration front that propagates at a constant subsonic speed. Using a trigger heat pulse and transverse and longitudinal magnetic fields, we investigate and control the crossover between thermally driven magnetic relaxation and magnetic deflagration in single crystals of ${Mn}_{12}$ -acetate.

Received 8 January 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.207203

Viewpoint

Fire in a Quantum Mechanical Forest

Published 13 May 2013

A new experimental scheme allows the controlled generation and observation of magnetic avalanches, a cascade of spin flips that propagates through a magnetic sample like a three-dimensional fire.

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Authors & Affiliations

P. Subedi¹, S. Vélez², F. Macià¹, S. Li³, M. P. Sarachik³, J. Tejada², S. Mukherjee⁴, G. Christou⁴, and A. D. Kent¹

¹Department of Physics, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA
²Grup de Magnetisme, Departament de Física Fonamental, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
³Department of Physics, City College of New York, CUNY, New York, New York 10031, USA
⁴Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA