Interaction of spin and vibrations in transport through single-molecule magnets

TL;DR

This paper investigates how vibrational fluctuations influence electron transport and quantum spin-tunneling in single-molecule magnets, revealing enhanced Kondo effects and magnetic field-dependent vibrational features.

Contribution

It demonstrates that vibrational fluctuations can induce quantum spin-tunneling and Kondo effects in single-molecule magnets, even with small transverse anisotropy.

Findings

Vibrational fluctuations induce quantum spin-tunneling in SMMs.

Vibrations can enhance the Kondo effect in SMM transport.

Magnetic field dependence of vibrational Kondo side-bands is observed.

Abstract

We study linear electron transport through a single-molecule magnet (SMM) and the interplay of its anisotropic spin with quantized vibrational distortions of the molecule. We show that, despite the longitudinal anisotropy barrier and small transverse anisotropy, vibrational fluctuations can induce quantum spin-tunneling (QST) and a QST-Kondo effect. The interplay of spin scattering, QST and molecular vibrations can strongly enhance the Kondo effect and induce an anomalous magnetic field dependence of vibrational Kondo side-bands.