Electronic structure of ErH2

A band structure study reveals that in contrast to the pure rare earth metal, the Fermi level of the dihydride falls near the bottom of the 5d band, in a region of low density of states; consequences on Fermi surface geometry, magnetic properties and resistivity are suggested. Below the metal d states lie two overlapping metal-hydrogen bands, in agreement with Weaver's photoemission data and Switendick's result on YH₂.