Circular magnetic dichroism of Fe17Dy2

Abstract We have performed circular magnetic dichroism experiments on a single crystal of Fe 17 Dy 2 at ambient temperature. By applying sum rules we have calculated the ratio of 〈 L z 〉 to 〈 S z 〉 for the Fe atom, obtaining the result 0.40±0.14. This ratio is compared with ratios measured previously for related compounds using the same technique. We have also observed strong dichroism at the M edge of Dy, in spite of the fact that pure dysprosium is paramagnetic at ambient temperature.