Quantum analogue of the spin-flop transition for a spin pair

Quantum (step) magnetization curves have been analyzed for a spin pair with antiferromagnetic interaction in the presence of a magnetic field that is parallel to the easy magnetization axis. Both semiclassical and numerical analyses have been performed for a wide range of the anisotropy parameter and spins up to S ≳ 100. In the dependence of the anisotropy character (single-ion or exchange), a spin jump larger than unity can appear in the magnetization curve or jumps can be concentrated in a narrow range of the field. In addition, regions of the problem parameters have been revealed where behavior is semiclassical for low spins on the order of S = 5 and where behavior is substantially quantum even for S → ∞.