DIPOLE-DIPOLE INTERACTION AND MAGNETIC-OR DERING IN KER(MOO4)2 .1. DIPOLE MAGNETIC MODEL FOR KER(MOO4)2

The energy of dipole-dipole interaction is calculated for a rare-earth subsystem KEr(MoO4)2. The magnetic configuration of minimum energy is determined. It consists of a set of ferromagnetic chains of RE ions t hat are extended along the minimum separation, c, in the cell and are antiferromagnetically bound between each other. The magnetic moments o f the ions of a chain are also aligned along the c axis. Analysis of t he energy characteristics for some probable possible magnetic configur ations realized with external magnetic field H parallel-to c applied s uggests that in the system under consideration a metamagnetic phase tr ansition occurs. In the predicted properties the system corresponds to a quasi-one-dimensional Ising magnet.