Van Vleck paramagnetism of the thulium garnet Tm3Al5O12

The magnetic susceptibility of the garnet-type single crystal Tm₃Al₅O₁₂ exhibits the typical Van Vleck temperature independent paramagnetism below ≈8 K. The temperature dependence of the susceptibility over the range 2.0-300 K has been analyzed on the assumption that the cubic crystal-electric-field dominates the energy level on ³H₆ (J=6) ground multiplet for Tm³⁺ ion having 12-electrons in 4f shell. The ground state of the ³H₆ is nonmagnetic with Γ₂ singlet, avoiding the Kramers doublet. The energy separation between Γ₂ and the first excited state Γ⁽²⁾₅ triplet is evaluated to be 68.0 K. The whole energy interval Δ between Γ₂ and the highest state Γ₁ in ³H₆ is estimated to be 339.5 K.