Micro-SQUID technique

A number of lanthanide SMMs have been studied by Wernsdorfer using the micro-SQUID technique for which the technical details can be found elsewhere... 

In this section we report the first study of the micro-SQUID response of a low-spin molecular system, V15, to electromagnetic radiation. The advantages of our micro-SQUID technique in respect to pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques consist in the possibility to perform time-resolved experiments (below 1 ns) [59] on submicrometer sizes samples (about 1000 spins) [22] at low temperature (below 100 mK). Our first results on Vi5 open the way for time-resolved observations of quantum superposition of spin-up and spin-down states in SMMs. Other results obtained in similar systems but with large spins concern for example EPR measurements [10], resonant photon-assisted tunneling in a Feg SMM [60]. 

An attempt to confirm the partial ion binding to macromolecules is given by Carpenter et a/.254. They found by a micro-electrode technique that the internal conductivity of plysia neurons is only 5% of the conductivity of squid axoplasm or normal sea water254. They concluded that an extensive binding of ions to cellular macromolecules existed. 

The study of these systems have become possible thanks to the development of various preparation routes, from sophisticated routes for the preparation of model materials with controlled nanostructures to industrial routes for the production of large quantity of materials. It has benefited as well from the development of new experimental techniques, allowing the properties of matter to be quantitatively examined at the nanometre scale. These include Hall micro-probe [3] or micro-SQUID magnetometry [4], XMCD at synchrotron radiation facilities [5] and scanning probe microscopes [6]. This is not the topic of this chapter to describe in detail these various techniques. They are only quoted in the following sections. The reader may find in the associated references the detailed technical descriptions that he may need. 

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