Magnetic Field Dependent Coherent Polarization Echoes in Glasses

Abstract

The unexpected finding of a strong magnetic field dependence of the dielectric properties of insulating glasses at very low temperatures has been a puzzling problem since its discovery. Several attempts have been made to explain this striking phenomenon. In order to obtain information on the origin of the magnetic field effects we have studied coherent properties of atomic tunneling systems in glasses by polarization echo experiments in magnetic fields. Our results clearly favor a model based on the assumption that nuclear quadrupoles play a crucial role for the observed magnetic field dependence.