Magnetic refrigeration in the low-temperature range

Rare-earth metals and their alloys are considered for effective use in magnetic refrigerators operating over a variety of temperature ranges. The analysis is based on the notion of refrigerant capacity. Specific refrigerant capacity of dysprosium is shown to reach a maximum value (ΔSM⋅ΔTcyc)max/B=20 J/mol T at B∼1.1 T. The effective use of rare earths and their alloys in magnetic refrigerators has been established to be determined to a considerable extent by the region of antiferromagnetic structure available and by the value of the field in which it is destroyed.