Dr Roland Bircher

Post doctoral researcher

Phone +61 (0)2 9717 9657
Email Roland.Bircher@ansto.gov.au

Dr Roland Bircher joined ANSTO in February 2007 as a postdoctoral research fellow to study single-molecule magnets and extended molecule based magnetic networks by neutron techniques.

His areas of expertise include inelastic neutron scattering, single-molecule magnets and spin clusters

Roland Bircher received his Master in chemistry and his PhD in chemistry from the University of Bern (Switzerland). His PhD mainly focussed on the analysis of the magnetic properties of single-molecule magnets and spin clusters by magnetic measurements and inelastic neutron scattering experiments carried out at various neutron sources in Europe.

Qualifications and achievements:

• Master in chemistry, University of Bern, Switzerland, December 2001
• PhD in chemistry, University of Bern, Switzerland, June 2006

Key Publications

O. Waldmann, R. Bircher, G. Carver, A. Sieber, H. U. Gudel, and H. Mutka, Exchange-coupling constants, spin density map, and Q dependence of the inelastic neutron scattering intensity in single-molecule magnets, Phys. Rev. B, 75(17) (2007).

R. Bircher, H.U. Gudel and C. Boskovic, "Synthesis, Structure and Magnetic Properties of a Novel Tb₄ Spin Cluster and Synthesis of a Tb Chain", Polyhedron, accepted (2007)

K.G. Alley, R. Bircher, O. Waldmann, S.T. Ochsenbein, H.U. Gudel, B. Moubaraki, K.S. Murray, F. Fernandez-Alonso, B.F. Abrahams and C. Boskovic, "Mixed-Valent Cobalt Spin Clusters: a Hexanuclear Complex and a One-Dimensional Coordination Polymer Comprised of Alternating Hepta- and Mononuclear Fragments", Inorg. Chem. 45, 8950-8957 (2006)

R. Bircher, G. Chaboussant, C. Dobe, H.U. Gudel, S.T. Ochsenbein, A. Sieber and O. Waldmann, "Single-Molecule Magnets Under Pressure", Adv. Funct. Mater. 16, 209-220 (2006)

A. Sieber, Roland Bircher, O. Waldmann, G. Carver, G. Chaboussant, H. Mutka and H.U. Gudel, "Effect of Pressure on the Magnetic Anisotropy in the Single-Molecule Magnet Mn₁₂-Acetate: An Inelastic Neutron Scattering Study", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 44, 4239-4242 (2005)

S Piligkos, G. Rajaraman, M. Soler, N. Kirchner, J. van Slageren, R. Bircher, S. Parsons, H.U. Gudel, J. Kortus, W. Wernsdorfer, G. Christou and E.K. Brechin, "Studies of an Enneanuclear Manganese Single-Molecule Magnet", J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127, 5572-5580 (2005)

R. Bircher, G. Chaboussant, A. Sieber, H.U. Gudel and H. Mutka, "Transverse magnetic anisotropy in Mn₁₂ acetate: Direct determination by inelastic neutron scattering", Phys. Rev. B 70, 212413/1-4 (2004)

C. Boskovic, R. Bircher, P.L.W. Tregenna-Piggott, H.U. Gudel, C. Paulsen, W. Wernsdorfer, A.L. Barra, E. Khatsko, A. Neels and H. Stoeckli-Evans, "Ferromagnetic and Antiferromagnetic Intermolecular Interactions in a New Family of Mn₄ Complexes with an Energy Barrier to Magnetization Reversal", J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125, 14046-14058 (2003)

M. Sofin, H. U. Gudel, R. Bircher, E. M. Peters and M. Jansen, "Na₁₀Co₄O₁₀, an Oligooxocobaltate(II, III) with Unusual Magnetic Properties", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 42, 3527-2529 (2003)