Paramagnetic relaxation of Er in an Er single crystal

The paramagnetic relaxation of Er in an Er single crystal was measured atT≫T _N and compared to the relaxation of Er ions in a polycrystalline Pb host. The results indicate an enhancement of at most 50% of the f-conduction electron exchange interaction in Er, as expected for highly ionic f-orbitals. The ratio of the quadrupole moments of the¹⁵⁴ Er(I ^π=11⁻) and the¹⁵⁵ Er(I ^π=13/2⁺) isomers was measured to be 1.18(3) indicating onset of nuclear deformation at N=87. Deceased May, 1986