Aspherical 4f-shell effects in rare-earth metals: Electric field gradient at Dy probe nuclei

Systematic DPAC measurements of the electric field gradient at Dy in very low concentration in pure Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho and Er metals in the paramagnetic phase have shown for the first time the host associated aspherical 4f-shell effects. The results are compared with the presently available first-principles based calculations of the electric field gradient and crystalline electric field parameters of rare-earth ions in rare-earth metals and alloys. The observed 4f-spin relaxation time of Dy ion in rare-earth metals is of the order of 2 ps. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.