increment Sz=2 quantum magnetization discontinuities proportional in number to the spin s in C60: Origin and the role of symmetry

The quantum antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on the fullerene C60 in a magnetic field has 4s ground-state magnetization discontinuities with increment Sz = 2 as a function of the spin quantum number s that disappear at the classical limit. The molecule can be seen as the fullerene C20 with interpentagon interactions that generate the discontinuities when sufficiently strong. The discontinuities originate from the antiferromagnetic Ising limit for both molecules. The results show how spatial symmetry dictates the magnetic response of the Ih fullerene molecules.