SINGLE-CRYSTALS OF RALO3 (R, DY, HO AND ER) FOR USE IN MAGNETIC REFRIGERATION BETWEEN 4.2 AND 20 K

Single crystals of RAlO3 (R: Dy, Ho and Er) were grown using the Czoch ralski technique. The magnetization of the single crystals along the a -, b- and c-axes was measured in the paramagnetic region using a super conducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Using the se values of the magnetization, the magnetic entropy change, which dep ends on the crystal axis direction, was calculated. Single crystals of DyAlO3 oriented along the b-axis and c-axis oriented ErAlO3 single cr ystals are promising materials for use in magnetic refrigeration syste ms using the Carnot cycle in the temperature range between 4.2 and 20 K.