The magnetic properties of Eu nanoclusters formed in NaCl crystals during plastic deformation and aggregation

摘要

Plastic deformation of aged crystals and diffusion-controlled aggregation of Eu2+ ions in freshly quenched NaCl : Eu crystals causes the formation of complexes bound by exchange interaction. The solution of large-sized precipitates by quenching followed by impurity aggregation results in the nucleation of magnetically sensitive clusters comprising few atoms. A constant magnetic field with induction 5 T increases the probability of the transition of magnetically sensitive clusters from the high- to low-spin metastable state and induces changes in their atomic structure. (C) 2005 Pleiades Publishing, Inc.