Stern-Gerlach Experiments on Mn@Sn12: Identification of a Paramagnetic Superatom and Vibrationally Induced Spin Orientation.

Beam deflection experiments in inhomogeneous magnetic fields reveal a new limiting case of the magnetization distribution of isolated clusters. Endohedrally doped clusters are produced in a temperature controlled, cryogenically cooled laser ablation source. Temperature dependent experiments indicate a crucial contribution of molecular vibrations to the spin dynamics of Mn@Sn12. In its vibrational ground state the cluster behaves magnetically like a paramagnetic atom, with quantized spin states. However, excited molecular vibrations induce spin orientation in the magnetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]