A Raman study of the single molecule magnet Mn12-acetate and analogs

Recent theoretical studies suggest that low-lying Mn–O vibrations play a significant role in the mechanism of quantum tunneling of magnetization (QTM) exhibited by single molecule magnets like Mn12-acetate (Mn12). We report a Raman study of Mn12, deuterated Mn12, both with S=10, and of Mn8Fe4 isostructural, with Mn12 but with S=2 ground state. Comparison of the detected mode frequencies with theoretical predictions and earlier infrared data supports their role in the spin–vibron interactions and the mechanism of anisotropy and QTM in Mn12.