NEW-TYPE OF MAGNETOCALORIC EFFECT - IMPLICATIONS ON LOW-TEMPERATURE MAGNETIC REFRIGERATION USING AN ERICSSON CYCLE

The low-temperature, high magnetic field heat capacity (1.5 to 70 K an d 0 to 9.85 T), dc and ac magnetic behaviors of the compound (Gd0.54Er 0.46)AlNi show that field-induced magnetic entropy change is significa nt and almost constant over the temperature region of approximately 15 to approximately 45 K. The resulting temperature dependence of the ma gnetocaloric effect, nearly constant over a 30+ K temperature range, i s unprecedented (most magnetic materials have a caretlike shape temper ature dependence). These data show that (Gd0.54Er0.46)AlNi can be used as an effective active magnetic regenerator material for an Ericsson- cycle magnetic refrigerator, and could substitute for complex composit e layered materials suggested earlier.