First- and second-order transitions of the escape rate in ferrimagnetic or antiferromagnetic particles

Abstract

Quantum-classical escape-rate transition has been studied for two general forms of magnetic anisotropy in ferrimagnetic or antiferromagnetic particles. It is found that the range of the first-order transition is greatly reduced as the system becomes ferrimagnetic and there is no first-order transition in almost compensated antiferromagnetic particles. These features can be tested experimentally in nanomagnets like molecular magnets.