Berlin 2008 – scientific programme
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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik
CPP 13: Colloidal and Nanoparticles
CPP 13.8: Talk
Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 17:00–17:15, C 264
Frustration-induced magic number clusters of colloidal magnetic particles — •Larysa Baraban1, Denys Makarov1, Manfred Albrecht2, Nicolas Rivier3, Paul Leiderer1, and Artur Erbe1 — 1University of Konstanz, Department of Physics, Konstanz, Germany — 2Chemnitz University of Technology, Surface and Interface Physics, Chemnitz, Germany — 3Institut de Physique et Chimie des Materiaux de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
We report the formation of stable two-dimensional clusters consisting of long-range interacting colloidal particles with pre-defined direction of macroscopic magnetic moments. The colloids can find the global minimum of the structure driven by magnetic frustration. This solution coincides with the ground state configuration of a two-dimensional triangular antiferromagnet, which is consistent with an XY-spin model. By satisfying the criteria of stability, a series of 'magic number' clusters is formed. Since the ground state follows the rules for compensation of magnetic moments and chirality, it is likely that conclusions can be drawn for spin systems as well, although the exact nature of the interactions is different. Thus, the system can be regarded as a mesoscopic model system for spin arrangements in antiferromagnets.