Temperature Dependence of the Magnetization of Dysprosium Metal

Abstract

In this paper the experimental fact that the temperature dependence of the saturation magnetic moment of dysprosium metal shows a marked departure from the Bloch $T^{\frac{3}{2}}$ law at low temperatures is interpreted as due to magnetic anisotropy. The calculation is in the spin-wave approximation and gives a result which agrees well with the observed temperature dependence of the magnetization if the magnitude of the magnetic anisotropy is suitably chosen. A discussion on the atomic origin of the magnetic anisotropy is given.