Magnetic Behaviour of Systems with a Quasi-doublet Ground State

Abstract

In this paper we will present a study of several Tm and Pr compounds, where the rare earth atoms have as their two lowest energy levels a quasi-doublet ground state. These compounds are also compared with Er and/or Dy compounds, which have a Kramers doublet as ground state. Four compounds (TmNi₅, TmCu₂, TmCuAl and PrRu₂Si₂) are discussed in sequence, where the energy separation of the two levels of the quasi-doublet ground state doublet is increasing. These compounds were studied with rare earth Mössbauer spectroscopy and µSR as the main measuring techniques.