Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026
![Measuring the Spin-Lattice Relaxation Magnetic Field Dependence of Hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F59399.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
11:57
Measuring the Spin-Lattice Relaxation Magnetic Field Dependence of Hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate
Published on: September 13, 2019
7.0K
Unconventional Field-Induced Spin Gap in an S=1/2 Chiral Staggered Chain
J Liu1, S Kittaka2, R D Johnson1
1Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom.
Physical Review Letters
|March 2, 2019
Summary
This study explores the magnetic properties of a chiral spin chain, revealing unique behaviors not fully explained by existing theories. The chiral structure introduces new magnetic interactions, impacting the spin gap and field dependence.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Magnetism
- Materials Science
Background:
- Molecule-based magnets offer tunable properties.
- Chiral spin chains present unique magnetic phenomena.
- The sine-Gordon model describes nonchiral staggered chains.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate low-temperature magnetic properties of [Cu(pym)(H2O)4]SiF6·H2O.
- Compare findings with nonchiral systems and sine-Gordon theory.
- Identify contributions of chirality to magnetic behavior.
Main Methods:
- Electron-spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy.
- Magnetometry measurements.
- Heat capacity analysis.
Main Results:
- Observed staggered g tensors and susceptibility.
- Detected a rich low-temperature excitation spectrum.
- Found a spin gap dependent on magnetic field.
Conclusions:
- The sine-Gordon model partially explains heat capacity but not the spin gap's field dependence.
- Chirality introduces Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya coupling and a staggered field.
- These chiral terms modify the magnetic Hamiltonian and observed properties.
![Radiosynthesis of 1-2-[18F]Fluoroethyl-L-Tryptophan using a One-pot, Two-step Protocol](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F63025.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
Related Concept Videos
02:27Predicting Products: SN1 vs. SN2
17.3K
Nucleophilic substitution reactions of alkyl halides can proceed via an SN1 or an SN2 mechanism. While in SN2 reactions, the nucleophile attacks the substrate simultaneously as the leaving group departs, in SN1 reactions, the substrate first dissociates to give the carbocation intermediate. Various factors such as the structure of the substrate, the strength of the nucleophile, and the nature of the solvent promote one mechanism over the other.
With increased substitution on the alkyl halide,...
With increased substitution on the alkyl halide,...
17.3K
02:25Chirality
29.4K
Chirality is a term that describes the lack of mirror symmetry in an object. In other words, chiral objects cannot be superposed on their mirror images. For example, our feet are chiral, as the mirror image of the left foot, the right foot, cannot be superposed on the left foot.
Chiral objects exhibit a sense of handedness when they interact with another chiral object. For example, our left foot can only fit in the left shoe and not in the right shoe. Achiral objects — objects that have...
Chiral objects exhibit a sense of handedness when they interact with another chiral object. For example, our left foot can only fit in the left shoe and not in the right shoe. Achiral objects — objects that have...
29.4K
01:23Induced Electric Fields
4.6K
The fact that emfs are induced in circuits implies that work is being done on the conduction electrons in the wires. What can possibly be the source of this work? We know that it’s neither a battery nor a magnetic field, as a battery does not have to be present in a circuit where current is induced, and magnetic fields never do any work on moving charges. The source of the work is in fact an electric field that is induced in the wires. For example, if a stationary conductor is placed in a...
4.6K
02:30Chirality in Nature
17.2K
Chirality is the most intriguing yet essential facet of nature, governing life’s biochemical processes and precision. It can be observed from a snail shell pattern in a macroscopic world to an amino acid, the minutest building block of life. Most of the snails around the world have right-coiled shells because of the intrinsic chirality in their genes. All the amino acids present in the human body exist in an enantiomerically pure state, except for glycine - the sole achiral amino acid.
17.2K
01:27Induced Electric Fields: Applications
2.6K
An important distinction exists between the electric field induced by a changing magnetic field and the electrostatic field produced by a fixed charge distribution. Specifically, the induced electric field is nonconservative because it does not work in moving a charge over a closed path. In contrast, the electrostatic field is conservative and does no net work over a closed path. Hence, electric potential can be associated with the electrostatic field but not the induced field. The following...
2.6K
01:37Gap Junctions
57.1K
Multicellular organisms employ a variety of ways for cells to communicate with each other. Gap junctions are specialized proteins that form pores between neighboring cells in animals, connecting the cytoplasm between the two, and allowing for the exchange of molecules and ions. They are found in a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate species, mediate numerous functions including cell differentiation and development, and are associated with numerous human diseases, including cardiac and...
57.1K