Electron spin resonance of diluted solid solutions of MnO2 in Y2O3

Electron spin resonance spectra of Mn2+ in diluted solid solutions of MnO2 in Y2O3 have been studied at room temperature for Mn concentrations between 0.20 and 2.00 mol%. Isolated Mn2+ ions in sites with two different symmetries were observed, as well as Mn2+ ions coupled by the exchange interaction. The relative concentration of isolated to coupled Mn2+ ions decreases with increasing manganese concentration. The results are consistent with the assumption that the manganese ions occupy preferentially the C2 symmetry sites. A theoretical calculation based on this model yields an effective range of the exchange interaction between Mn2+ ions of 0.53 nm, of the same order as that of Mn2+ ions in CaO.