An analysis of the rare earth contribution to the magnetic anisotropy in RCo5 and R2Co17 compounds

An attempt has been made to treat the rare earth contribution to the magnetocrystalline anisotropy in RCo5 and R2Co17 compounds with a single ion model using a Hamiltonian of the form: H=B20O20+gμBJ·HexHex is regarded as arising mainly from the cobalt sublattice. Eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for the above Hamiltonian were obtained when the exchange field is perpendicular to the c-axis and compared with those when it is parallel to the c-axis. …