We study the magnetic properties of spherical Co clusters with diameters between 0.8 nm and 5.4 nm (25 to 7500 atoms) prepared by sequential sputtering of Co and Al2O3. The particle size distribution has been determined from the equilibrium susceptibility and magnetization data and it is compared to previous structural characterizations. The distribution of activation energies was independently obtained from a scaling plot of the ac susceptibility. Combining these two distributions we have accurately determined the effective anisotropy constant K ef f . We find that K ef f is enhanced with respect to the bulk value and that it is dominated by a strong anisotropy induced at the surface of the clusters. Interactions between the magnetic moments of adjacent layers are shown to increase the effective activation energy barrier for the reversal of the magnetic moments. Finally, this reversal is shown to proceed classically down to the lowest temperature investigated (1.8 K).

Zero-field electrical resistivity over the temperature range of 4–300 K and magnetoresistance in magnetic fields of up to 12 T have been measured in Gd5(Si1.8Ge2.2). This system undergoes a first-order magnetostructural transition at TC≅240 K, from a high-temperature paramagnetic to a low-temperature ferromagnetic phase, accompanied by a large drop in the resistivity. The application of an external magnetic field above TC can induce this transition, and a giant negative magnetoresistance effect (Δρ/ρ≅−20%) is observed associated with this first-order field-induced transition.

The crystal and local structures of La 1−x Sr x FeO 3−␦ ͑0 ഛ x ഛ 1͒ samples have been studied by x-ray diffraction and x-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques. The Fe-O bond length decreases with increasing x. Accordingly, the x-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy ͑XANES͒ spectra reveal a chemical shift of the iron K edge to higher energies. Both results agree with an Fe valence increase as La is substituted with Sr. Extended x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy and XANES show that the chemical state of Fe atoms in intermediate compositions can be described either by a bimodal distribution of formal Fe 3+ and Fe 4+ ions or by an Fe 3.x+ intermediate valence. The large value of the Debye-Waller factors obtained for intermediate compositions indicates that hole doping produces local disorder around the Fe ions. These factors show unusually large values below the metal-insulator ͑MI͒ transition for x =2/ 3 or 3/ 4. We show that a significant charge disproportionation of the type 2Fe 4+ → Fe 3+ +Fe 5+ cannot account for the local structure observed below the MI transition temperature of these samples. We suggest that an electronic localization arises from an order-disorder transition between dynamic and static distortions, resulting in the opening of a gap at the Fermi level.