The Spin-Hamiltonian Concept

The spin-Hamiltonian concept, as proposed by Van Vleck [79], was introduced to EPR spectroscopy by Pryce [50, 74] and others [75, 80, 81]. H. H. Wickmann was the first to simulate paramagnetic Mossbauer spectra [82, 83], and E. Miinck and P. Debmnner published the first computer routine for magnetically split Mossbauer spectra [84] which then became the basis of other simulation packages [85]. Concise introductions to the related modem EPR techniques can be found in the book by Schweiger and Jeschke [86]. Magnetic susceptibility is covered in textbooks on molecular magnetism [87-89]. An introduction to MCD spectroscopy is provided by [90-92]. Various aspects of the analysis of applied-field Mossbauer spectra of paramagnetic systems have been covered by a number of articles and reviews in the past [93-100]. 

1 Ground State Properties and Zero-Field Splitting 

In tier (1) of the diagram (for the electronic structure of iron(III)), only the total energy of the five metal valence electrons in the potential of the nucleus is considered. Electron-electron repulsion in tier (2) yields the free-ion terms (Russel-Saunders terms) that are usually labeled by term ° symbols (The numbers given in brackets at the energy states indicate the spin- and orbital-multiplicities of these states.) 

The ligand field of a quasi-octahedral coordination sphere acting on the (i-orbitals lifts the degeneracy of the excited spin quartet (and others) as sketched in tier (3). The nature of the resulting states and their energy depends on the strength 

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If the electric quadrupole splitting of the 7 = 3/2 nuclear state of Fe is larger than the magnetic perturbation, as shown in Fig. 4.13, the nij = l/2) and 3/2) states can be treated as independent doublets and their Zeeman splitting can be described independently by effective nuclear g factors and two effective spins 7 = 1/2, one for each doublet [67]. The approach corresponds exactly to the spin-Hamiltonian concept for electronic spins (see Sect. 4.7.1). The nuclear spin Hamiltonian for each of the two Kramers doublets of the Fe nucleus is ... 

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