A comparative study of the magnetocaloric effect in RNi2 (R = Dy, Ho, Er) intermetallic compounds

In this work we study the conventional and anisotropic magnetocaloric effects in the cubic rare-earth RNi2 (R = Dy, Ho, Er) ferromagnetic intermetallic compounds. For each of these compounds we have explored the crystalline electrical-field anisotropy to predict the anisotropic magnetocaloric quantities under rotations of an applied magnetic field of constant intensity. The calculations were performed using proper parameters reported in the literature. Our results for the anisotropic magnetocaloric effect reveal some peculiarities of the spin reorientation which can be considered in designing new magnetocaloric materials for magnetic refrigerators.