Enhanced superhyperfine structure of the EPR spectra of a U3+ ion introduced into the Van Vleck paramagnet LiTmF4

The observation of the superhyperfine structure (SHFS) in EPR spectra due to enhanced nuclear magnetism is reported. The X-band spectrum of a U³⁺ ion introduced into the Van Vleck paramagnet LiTmF₄ is measured in the temperature range of 5–20 K and compared with the spectra of LiLuF₄:U³⁺ and LiYF₄:U³⁺ single crystals. The spectra reveal well-resolved and strikingly different SHFS. The SHFS of Li(Lu, Y)F₄:U³⁺ is due to the fluorine ions forming the nearest surroundings of the U³⁺ ion. The main contribution to the SHFS of the U³⁺ spectrum in LiTmF₄ comes from the Tm³⁺ ions with a highly enhanced nuclear gyromagnetic tensor. The text was submitted by the authors in English.