Mossbauer spectroscopy of rare earth impurities in hexagonal host metals:ZrEr

Abstract

The authors discuss how the Mossbauer effect can be used to obtain information on the electronic ground state of rare earth impurities in hexagonal host metals. It is shown that the properties of the electronic ground state may in general be determined unambiguously and it is pointed out that the Mossbauer studies polycrystalline samples are sufficient. Experimentally the system Zr:Er is considered where the data indicates that an error was made in the analyses of previous Mossbauer data. The CEF ground state of Er impurities in Zr is found to be a Gamma ₇ Kramers' doublet with g/sub ///=13.8+or-0.4 and mod g_{perpendicular to} mod =2.8+or-0.2. The exchange coupling constant is derived to be mod J_sf mod =3.5*10^-2 eV.