Vibrations play a prominent role in magnetic relaxation processes of molecular spin qubits as they couple to spin states, leading to the loss of quantum information. Direct experimental determination of vibronic coupling is crucial to understand and control the spin dynamics of these nano-objects, which represent the limit of miniaturization for quantum devices. Herein, we measure the magneto-infrared properties of the molecular spin qubit system Na9[Ho­(W5O18)2]·35H2O. Our results place significant constraints on the pattern of crystal field levels and the vibrational excitations allowing us to unravel vibronic decoherence pathways in this system. We observe field-induced spectral changes near 63 and 370 cm–1 that are modeled in terms of odd-symmetry vibrations mixed with f-manifold crystal field excitations. The overall extent of vibronic coupling in Na9[Ho­(W5O18)2]·35H2O is limited by a modest coupling constant (on the order of 0.25) and a transparency window in the phonon density of states that acts to keep the intramolecular vibrations and M J levels apart. These findings advance the understanding of vibronic coupling in a molecular magnet with atomic clock transitions and suggest strategies for designing molecular spin qubits with improved coherence lifetimes.

In combination with other parameters, the real, n([Formula: see text]), and imaginary, k([Formula: see text]), components of the complex refractive index, [Formula: see text] =  n + i k, can be used to simulate the optical properties of a material in different forms, e.g., its infrared spectra. Ultimately, such n/k values can be used to generate a database of synthetic reflectance spectra for the different morphologies to which experimental data can be compared. But obtaining reliable values of the optical constants n/k for solid materials is challenging due to the lack of optical quality specimens, usually crystals, large enough to measure. An alternative to crystals is to press the powder into a uniform disk. We have produced pellets from ammonium sulfate, (NH4)2SO4, powder and derived the pellets' n and k values via single-angle reflectance using a specular reflectance device in combination with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. The single-angle technique measures amplitude of light reflected from the material as a function of wavelength over a wide spectral domain; the optical constants are determined from the reflectance data using the Kramers–Kronig relationship. We investigate several parameters associated with the pellets and pellet formation and their effects upon delivering the most reliable n/k values. Parameters studied include pellet diameter, mass, and density (void space), drying, grinding, sieving, and particle size in the pellet formation, as well as pressing pressure and duration. Of these parameters, using size-selected mixtures of dried, small (<50 µm) particles and pressing at ≥10 tons for at least 30 min were found key to forming highly reflective samples. Comparison of two sets of previous literature n([Formula: see text]) and k([Formula: see text]) values obtained from crystalline (NH4)2SO4 both as crystal reflectance as well as extinction spectra of aerosols measured in a flow tube shows reasonable agreement, but suggests the present values, as confirmed from two independent techniques, represent a substantial improvement for n/k values for (NH4)2SO4, also demonstrating promise to measure the optical constants of other materials.

Owing to their overall low energy scales, flexible molecular architectures, and ease of chemical substitution, molecule-based multiferroics are extraordinarily responsive to external stimuli and exhibit remarkably rich phase diagrams. Even so, the stability and microscopic properties of various magnetic states in close proximity to quantum critical points are highly under-explored in these materials. Inspired by these opportunities, we combined pulsed-field magnetization, first-principles calculations, and numerical simulations to reveal the magnetic field-temperature (B-T) phase diagram of multiferroic (NH 4 ) 2 FeCl 5 ⋅H 2 O. In this system, a network of intermolecular hydrogen and halogen bonds creates a competing set of exchange interactions that generates additional structure in the phase diagram-both in the vicinity of the spin flop and near the 30 T transition to the fully saturated state. Consequently, the phase diagrams of (NH 4 ) 2 FeCl 5 ⋅H 2 O and its deuterated analog are much more complex than those of other molecule-based multiferroics. The entire series of coupled electric and magnetic transitions can be accessed with a powered magnet, opening the door to exploration and control of properties in this and related materials.npj Quantum Materials (2019) 4:44 ; https://doi.

Nonreciprocal directional dichroism is an unusual light-matter interaction that gives rise to diode-like behavior in low-symmetry materials. The chiral varieties are particularly scarce due to the requirements for strong spin-orbit coupling, broken time-reversal symmetry, and a chiral axis. Here we bring together magneto-optical spectroscopy and first-principles calculations to reveal highenergy, broadband nonreciprocal directional dichroism in Ni 3 TeO 6 with special focus on behavior in the metamagnetic phase above 52 T. In addition to demonstrating this effect in the magnetochiral configuration, we explore the transverse magnetochiral orientation in which applied field and light propagation are orthogonal to the chiral axis and, by so doing, uncover an additional configuration with a unique nonreciprocal response in the visible part of the spectrum. In a significant conceptual advance, we use first-principles methods to analyze how the Ni 2+ d-to-d on-site excitations develop magneto-electric character and present a microscopic model that unlocks the door to theory-driven discovery of chiral magnets with nonreciprocal properties.

Single crystals of NaEu(9)(SiO(4))(6)O(2), Na(1.5)Eu(8.5)(SiO(4))(6)OF, Na(1.64)Gd(8.36)(SiO(4))(6)O(0.72)F(1.28), Gd(9.34)(SiO(4))(6)O(2), Ca(2.6)Eu(7.4)(SiO(4))(6)O(1.4)F(0.6), Ca(4.02)Sm(5.98)(SiO(4))(6)F(2), and K(1.32)Pr(8.68)(SiO(4))(6)O(1.36)F(0.64) and powders of NaEu(9)(SiO(4))(6)O(2), Na(1.5)Eu(8.5)(SiO(4))(6)OF, Eu(9.34)(SiO(4))(6)O(2), and Gd(9.34)(SiO(4))(6)O(2) were synthesized via flux growth in selected alkali-fluoride melts. All of the compounds adopt the apatite structure with space group P6(3)/m. Luminescence and magnetic data were collected on NaEu(9)(SiO(4))(6)O(2), Na(1.5)Eu(8.5)(SiO(4))(6)OF, Eu(9.34)(SiO(4))(6)O(2), and Gd(9.34)(SiO(4))(6)O(2). Luminescent data indicate that changing the cations and anions that surround the lanthanide site does not change the luminescent properties, making apatites versatile structures for optical materials.

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Iodine monochloride (ICl) is a potential off-gas product of molten salt reactors; monitoring this heteronuclear diatomic molecule is of great interest for both environmental and safety purposes. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of infrared monitoring of ICl by measuring the far-infrared absorption cross section of its fundamental band near 381 cm −1 . We have performed quantitative studies of the neat gas in a 20 cm cell at 25, 35, 50, and 70 °C at multiple pressures up to ∼9 Torr and investigated the temperature and pressure dependencies of the band's infrared cross section. Quantitative measurements were problematic due to sample adhesion to the cell walls and windows as well as reactions/possible hydrolysis of ICl to form HCl gas. Effects were mitigated by measuring only the neat gas, using short measurement times, and subtracting out the partial pressure of the HCl(g). The integrated band strength is shown to be temperature independent and was found to be equal to 9.1 × 10 −19 (cm 2 /molecule) cm −1 . As expected, the temperature dependence of the band profile showed only a small effect over this limited temperature range. We have also investigated using the absorption data along with inverse least squares multivariate methods for the quantitative monitoring of ICl effluent concentrations under different scenarios using infrared (standoff) sensing and compare these results with traditional Beer's law (univariate) techniques.

We combined Raman scattering and magnetic susceptibility to explore the properties of [(CH 3 ) 2 NH 2 ]Mn-(HCOO) 3 under compression. Analysis of the formate bending mode reveals a broad two-phase region surrounding the 4.2 GPa critical pressure that becomes increasingly sluggish below the order−disorder transition due to the extensive hydrogen-bonding network. Although the paraelectric and ferroelectric phases have different space groups at ambient-pressure conditions, they both drive toward P1 symmetry under compression. This is a direct consequence of how the order−disorder transition changes under pressure. We bring these findings together with prior magnetization work to create a pressure−temperature−magnetic field phase diagram, unveiling entanglement, competition, and a progression of symmetry-breaking effects that underlie functionality in this molecule-based multiferroic. That the high-pressure P1 phase is a subgroup of the ferroelectric Cc suggests the possibility of enhanced electric polarization as well as opportunity for strain control.