Is the Magnetism of HgSe:Fe Clearly Understood?

The high magnetic field magnetization measurements of low composition Hg$\text{}_{1-x}$Fe$\text{}_{x}$Se (0.0002 < x < 0.003) at temperatures ranging from 1.6 K to 40 K and in magnetic fields up to 20 T are reported. The magnetization in a sample containing only Fe$\text{}^{3+}$ ions (x = 0.0002) is described by the Brillouin function (j = 5/2). The magnetization in the sample codoped with Ga, containing only Fe$\text{}^{2+}$ is well described in the model of isolated Fe$\text{}^{2+}$ ions. The latter model takes into account the tetrahedral crystal field, the spin-orbit interaction and the Zeeman term. On the other hand, the magnetization of sample with both Fe$\text{}^{3+}$ and Fe$\text{}^{2+}$ present simultaneously (x = 0.003) is shown to be different from a simple additive superposition of the contributions due to Fe$\text{}^{3+}$ and Fe$\text{}^{2+}$ subsystems. The possible origin of this discrepancy is discussed.