Quantum Einstein-de Haas effect

The classical Einstein-de Haas experiment demonstrates that a change of magnetization in a macroscopic magnetic object results in a mechanical rotation of this magnet. This experiment can therefore be considered as a macroscopic manifestation of the conservation of total angular momentum and energy of electronic spins. Since the conservation of angular momentum is a consequence of a system’s rotational invariance, it is valid for an ensemble of spins in a macroscopic ferromaget as well as for single spins. Here we propose an experimental realization of an Einstein-de Haas experiment at the single-spin level based on a single-molecule magnet coupled to a nanomechanical resonator. We demonstrate that the spin associated with the single-molecule magnet is then subject to conservation of total angular momentum and energy, which results in a total suppression of the molecule’s quantum tunnelling of magnetization. The Einstein-de Haas effect is a manifestation of the conservation of angular momentum, causing a magnetic object to rotate as its magnetization state is changed. Here, the authors demonstrate this effect at the single spin level for a molecular magnet suspended on a nanomechanical resonator.