Nuclear alignment of implanted160Tb in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite layers

Low-temperature nuclear alignment of¹⁶⁰Tb ions implanted in Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite has been observed by the anisotropic intensity distribution of γ-rays. The data can be understood with an effective spin Hamiltonian containing combined magnetic and electric hyperfine interactions. Values deduced for the hyperfine parameters are A/k=(101±7) mK for the magnetic interaction, and P/k=(−3.7±0.9) mK for the nuclear electric quadrupole interaction, under the assumption that B=0 and Δ=0. Measurements in magnetic fields of 0.2 and 1.0 T directed along the graphite c-axis showed thermal saturation due to the strongly reduced heat conductivity of HOPG in the presence of a magnetic field.