Giant Magnetostriction in Dysprosium and Holmium Single Crystals

Magnetostriction along the axes in Dy and Ho was measured in magnetic fields up to 26 kgauss and parallel to the plane of the metal disks. Maximum linear strains ( DELTA l/l) of 7500 x 10/sup -6/and 3500 x 10/sup -6/ were observed for Dy and Ho, respectively. Strain dependence on magnetic field strength for both metals has a striking resemblance in shape to the magnetization data for the metals. The dependence of the strain on the direction of the applied field shows marked departures from the pure sin/sup 2/ theta dependence. (D.C.W.)