Magnetism of neodymium trifluoromethanesulfonate nonahydrate and effects of the crystal field

The principal magnetic susceptibilities of neodymium trifluoromethanesulfon ate nonahydrate (NdTFMS) were measured between 300.0 and 12.5 K. The hexago nal crystal structure of NdTFMS is very similar to that of the hydrated rar e-earth ethylsulfates with the Nd3+ ion occupying a site of C-3h symmetry. An excellent description of the observed results was obtained using one-ele ctron crystal field theory with the set of parameters derived from a fit to the observed absorption spectra. No ordering effects were noticed indicati ng the interionic interaction to be of predominantly dipolar type. The g-va lues were calculated to be 3.81 and 2.02 for g(parallel to) and g(perpendic ular to), respectively. The nuclear quadrupole splitting, and the electroni c and nuclear heat capacities were also computed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.