On the hyperfine interaction in rare-earth Van Vleck paramagnets at high magnetic fields

Abstract

The influence of high magnetic fields on the hyperfine interaction in rare-earth ions with a non-magnetic ground state (Van Vleck ions) is investigated theoretically for the case of Tm3+ ions in an axially symmetrical crystal electric field (in an ethylsulphate crystal). It is shown that magnetic-field-induced distortions of the 4f-electron shell lead to crucial changes in the hyperfine magnetic field at the nucleus. The proposed theoretical model is in agreement with recent experimental data.