Quantum tunneling in magnetic systems of various sizes (invited)

Abstract

Magnetic relaxation experiments constitute a unique method of determining the nature of fluctuations in dissipative magnetic systems. At high temperatures these fluctuations are thermal and strongly temperature dependent. At low temperatures, where quantum fluctuations dominate, magnetic relaxation becomes independent of temperature. Such behavior has been observed in many systems. In this review we emphasize the study of low temperature relaxation in ferromagnetic nanoparticles, layers, and multilayers (including ‘‘domain wall junctions’’), and large single crystals. The results of magnetic relaxation experiments are shown to agree with theoretical predictions of quantum tunneling of the magnetization. When dissipation becomes important, in large and complex systems, a time dependent WKB exponent needs to be introduced.