Metastability of free cobalt and iron clusters: a possible precursor to bulk ferromagnetism

Homonuclear cobalt and iron clusters Co(N) and Fe(N) measured in a cryogenic molecular beam exist in two states with distinct magnetic moments (μ), polarizabilities, and ionization potentials, indicating distinct valences. The μ is approximately quantized: μ(N)～2Nμ(B) in the ground states and μ(N)(*)～Nμ(B) in the excited states for Co; μ(N)～3Nμ(B) and μ(N)(*)～Nμ(B) for Fe. At a large size, the average μ of the two states converges to the bulk value with diminishing ionization potential differences. The experiments suggest localized ferromagnetism in the two states and that itinerant ferromagnetism emerges from their superposition.