Vibrationally Induced Magnetism in Supramolecular Aggregates

Magnetic phenomena in chemistry and condensed matter physics are considered to be associated with low temperatures. That a magnetic state or order is stable below a critical temperature as well as becoming stronger the lower the temperature is a nearly unquestioned paradigm. It is, therefore, surprising that recent experimental observations made on supramolecular aggregates suggest that, for instance, the magnetic coercivity may increase with an increasing temperature and the chiral-induced spin selectivity effect may be enhanced. Here, a mechanism for vibrationally stabilized magnetism is proposed, and a theoretical model is introduced with which the qualitative aspects of the recent experimental findings can be explained. It is argued that anharmonic vibrations, which become increasingly occupied with an increasing temperature, enable nuclear vibrations to both stabilize and sustain magnetic states. The theoretical proposal, hence, pertains to structures without inversion and/or reflection symmetries, for instance, chiral molecules and crystals.

Automated summary

Magnetic phenomena in chemistry and condensed matter physics are typically associated with low temperatures. However, recent experimental observations on supramolecular aggregates suggest that the magnetic coercivity may increase with increasing temperature, and the chiral-induced spin selectivity effect may be enhanced. A proposed mechanism for vibrationally stabilized magnetism and a theoretical model are introduced to explain these findings, suggesting that anharmonic vibrations enable nuclear vibrations to stabilize and sustain magnetic states in structures without inversion and/or reflection symmetries, such as chiral molecules and crystals.