Magnetic moments and chemical bonding in isolated BiNCoM clusters

Isolated BiNCoM clusters with variable Co content are generated by reactions between CoM and BiN particles dispersed in a He flow. The magnetic properties of the BiNCoM clusters are investigated by the Stern–Gerlach deflection method in a molecular beam experiment. The magnetic moments of the clusters are extracted from the measured deflections by means of a statistical mechanics model. The magnetic moments of the BiNCoM clusters can be consistently understood by ferromagnetic ordering of the magnetic moments of the Co atom cores in the clusters and additional effects due to the chemical bonding with the Bi in the cluster.