Experimental study of magnetic anisotropy in a layered CsNd(MoO₄)₂

Ground-state properties of Nd³⁺ ion in the magnetically concentrated CsNd(MoO₄)₂ lattice of orthorhombic symmetry have been investigated at low temperatures. Magnetic-field dependence of magnetization measured at 5 K in the magnetic field applied along the a, b, c crystallographic axes reflects slight deviations from the tetragonal symmetry of a local surrounding of Nd³⁺ ion. The analysis of the data performed within a model of an ideal paramagnet provided g-factor values, g_a = 3.08, g_b = 1.90, and g_c = 1.95. Angular dependence of the electron paramagnetic resonance spectra studied at temperature 2.5 K was investigated in the ab, ac and bc planes. The spectra are dominated by a broad asymmetric line which is strongly deformed due to the formation of a fine structure ascribed to the presence of nonequivalent Nd³⁺ sites. The analysis of the spectra confirmed the easy-axis character of a magnetic anisotropy. In addition, nontrivial tilting of the local anisotropy axes from the crystallographic axes was revealed, indicating lowering of crystal symmetry at low temperatures.