Magnetic measurement and a crystal field investigation of Ho2(SO4)3•8H2O crystal

Magnetic measurements of octahydrated Holmium sulphate have been carried out in the temperature range 80-300 K and analysis of the results has been performed using a crystal field of C-1h symmetry which is the major point symmetry of the ion inferred from the polarized optical absorption studies. The most rigorous approach of direct diagonalization of the Hamiltonian matrix constructed in the complete basis of states belonging to all atomic terms of the Ho3+ ion has been employed. A new set of crystal field parameters some of which are widely different from that reported from optical studies, has been evaluated for consistent interpretation of both the magnetic and optical data.