A nuclear magnetic resonance study of SmMn2H2

A 147Sm and 149Sm nuclear magnetic resonance study of the hydride SmMn2H2 at 4.2 K is reported. Well resolved quadrupole septets are observed in the spectra of both isotopes. The value of the hyperfine field, 342.7 T, corresponds with the fully polarised magnetic state, Jz = J = 5/2, of samarium in the compound. The magnitude of the electric field gradient derived from the line separation in the spectra and the quadrupole oscillations of the spin echo decay curves reveals a considerable lattice contribution to the electric field gradient. The results are discussed in terms of the influence of hydrogen on the contribution of Sm to the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of the compound and a conclusion about the magnetic structure of the compound is given. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.