Magnetic and ESR studies of Er3+ in lanthanum dihydride LaH2

Er³⁺ electron spin resonance ESR and magnetic susceptibility have been studied in metallic lanthanum dihydride host. The ESR spectrum contains a single asymmetrical line with g-factor g = 6.68 ± 0.05 close to that expected for Γ₇ as ground state. The experimental magnetic susceptibility was interpreted on the base of LLW cubic crystal field Hamiltonian. The best fit of the experimental data has been obtained for the following B₄ and B₆ crystal field parameters: B₄ = ?5.2 × 10^?3 K; B₆ = 3.8 × 10^?5 K which support the anionic-like character hydridic model of hydrogen atoms in this hydride.