Equal-Interval Splitting of Quantum Tunneling in Single-Molecule Magnets with Identical Exchange Coupling

Abstract: The equal-interval splitting of quantum tunneling observed in simple-Ising-model systems of Ni${4}$ (3D) and Mn$_3$ (2D) single-molecule magnets (SMMs) is reported. The splitting is due to the identical exchange coupling in the SMMs, and is simply determined by the difference between the two numbers of the spin-down $n{\downarrow}$ and spin-up $n_{\uparrow}$ molecules neighboring to the tunneling molecule. The splitting may be presented as $(n_{\downarrow}-n_{\uparrow})JS/{g\mu_{0}\mu_{B}}$, and the number of the splittings follows $n+1$ where $n=n_{\downarrow}+n_{\uparrow}$ is the coordination number. Besides, since the quantum tunneling is heavily dependent on local spin environment, the manipulation of quantum tunneling may become feasible for this kind of system, which may shed new light on novel applications of SMMs.