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 5d electrons in the heavy rare earth metals are presented. The model involves the use of wave functions based on published analyses for 4fⁿ5d6s² 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 5d electrons which have been shown to amount to about ?250koe in Gd, Er and Tm.