Magneto-transport through single-molecule magnets: Kondo-peaks, zero-bias dips, molecular symmetry and Berry's phase

Abstract

We theoretically analyse coherent electron transport through a single-molecule magnet (SMM) in the regime where charge fluctuations are suppressed. Using the numerical renormalization group (NRG) technique, we calculate the low-temperature conductance as a function of the SMMs magnetic anisotropy parameters and the strength and orientation of an external magnetic field. We show how the microscopic magnetic symmetry of the molecule affects the transport via a Kondo effect with non-trivial dependence on a longitudinal field. In addition, we show how Berry's phase and the Kondo effect, both associated with reversal of the SMMs spin, appear when both the magnetic field amplitude and direction are varied. It is shown that both effects involve the magnetic excitations of the SMM in an essential way.