Anisotropy of the Hyperfine Field on 57Fe in Pure and Substituted Yttrium Iron Garnet

Using NMR, anisotropy of the hyperfine field on ⁵⁷Fe nuclei was measured in Y₃Fe₅O₁₂ with nonmagnetic, trivalent substitutions on d (Ga³⁺) and a (Y³⁺ - yttrium antisite defect) sites which are occupied by ferric ions in a pure, stoichiometric system. The measurements were performed by the spin-echo method at liquid helium temperature. Thorough analysis of the hyperfine field anisotropy on the ⁵⁷Fe nuclei in an ideal environment and in an environment where one of Fe³⁺ nearest cation neighbours is replaced by the nonmagnetic impurity is given. When the Fe³⁺ on which the NMR is measured is on the a site and the impurity is Ga³⁺(d), the results may be interpreted in terms of the superposition model. On the other hand, the results for Fe³⁺ on the d site and Y³⁺(a) are in clear disagreement with the predictions of this model. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.