The contribution of 5d electrons to the saturation magnetic moments and magnetic hyperfine fields in the heavy rare earth metals

The main results of a model for 5 d electrons in the heavy rare earth metals are presented. The model involves the use of wave functions based on published analyses for 4 f n 5 d6 s 2 atomic configurations, and the spreading of each of these energy levels uniformly over a band of width W in the metals. Excess saturation magnetic moments above those of the tripositive ions can be explained by the model with W in the range 0.84±0.16eV in the five metals Gd, Tb, Dy, Er and Tm. The magnetic hyperfine fields in the metals include negative contributions from the 5 d electrons which have been shown to amount to about −250koe in Gd, Er and Tm.