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Incoherent Zener tunneling and its application to molecular magnets

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

88 Scopus citations

Abstract

We generalize the Landau-Zener theory of coherent tunneling transitions by taking thermal relaxation into account. The evaluation of a generalized master equation containing a dynamic tunneling rate that includes the interaction between the relevant system and its environment leads to an incoherent Zener transition probability with an exponent that is twice as large as the one of the coherent Zener probability in the limit (Formula presented) We apply our results to molecular clusters, in particular to recent measurements of the tunneling transition of spins in (Formula presented) crystals performed by Wernsdorfer and Sessoli [Science 284, 133 (1999)].

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)12200-12203
Number of pages4
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume61
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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