Anisotropy effect on the caloric properties of NdAl2 single crystal

In this paper we theoretically discuss the effect of anisotropy on the magnetocaloric properties of NdAl2 single crystal. To this end, we use a model Hamiltonian of interacting magnetic moments under the influence of the crystal electric field. The magnetocaloric quantity, ΔSiso, calculated for 7 T magnetic field variation is in a reasonable agreement with the available experimental data. Moreover, we predict the existence of anomalies in the magnetocaloric effect when the magnetic field of constant intensity rotates from 〈100〉 to 〈110〉 direction.