Abstract
SmFe 3(BO 3) 4 belongs to the family of rare-earth RFe 3(BO 3) 4 multiferroics. We present the first measurements of the optical spectra of SmFe 3(BO 3) 4 (on single crystals) and report the data on the crystal-field levels and their symmetries for the ground multiplet 6H 5/2 [0 ( Γ 4 ), 135 ( Γ 56 ), and 220 ( Γ 4 ) cm −1] and on the ground-state exchange splitting (13.2 cm −1 at 1.7 K), important to interpret the magnetic, magnetoelectric, and thermodynamic properties of this compound. The observed exchange splitting of the Sm 3+ Kramers doublets manifests the magnetic ordering in SmFe 3(BO 3) 4 at 32 ± 1 K . From a comparison of the temperature-dependent spectra of the Sm 3+ ion in SmFe 3(BO 3) 4 and in Nd–Gd mixed iron borate where the magnetic spin reorientation has been found earlier, we suggest the easy-plane arrangement of the Fe spins in SmFe 3(BO 3) 4. The samarium iron borate preserves the R32 ( D 3 7 ) crystal structure at all the investigated temperatures (down to 1.7 K).
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