Dysprosium magnesium silicate apatite featuring field and temperature stable slow magnetization relaxation

Dy–Mg silicate Dy(8)Mg(2)(SiO(4))(6)O(2) has been prepared by high-temperature solid state reaction. It has an apatite type structure (P6(3)/m) with the Dy atoms fully occupying the 6h site and being in random distribution with the Mg atoms at the 4f site. The compound reveals dual magnetization relaxation with widely varying contributions from fast (FR) and slow (SR) relaxation paths controlled by field and temperature. The SR path is stabilized by a strong magnetic field, exhibits a weak dependence of relaxation time τ on field and temperature, and sustains large τ of a few seconds up to a temperature of 40 K and under a field of 50 kOe. The analysis of the electronic structure and comparison with the known Dy-doped phosphate apatites suggests that the Orbach and Raman processes are suppressed.