First- and second-order phase transitions between quantum and classical regimes for the escape rate of a biaxial spin system

The particle Hamiltonian for a biaxial spin system with a transverse or longitudinal magnetic field is investigated. We apply the Hamiltonian to the quantum-classical escape rate transition in small magnets. It is found that the phase boundary separating the first- and second-order transition is greatly influenced by the transverse anisotropy constant as well as the external magnetic field