Uses for Holmium
(American Element)

Holmium has the highest magnetic moment (10.6µB) of any naturally occurring element.  Because of this it has been used to create the highest known magnetic fields by placing it within high strength magnets as a pole piece or magnetic flux concentrator. 

This magnetic property also has value in yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) lasers for microwave equipment.

Holmium lasers at a human eye safe 2.08 microns allowing its use in a variety of medical and dental applications in both yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) and yttrium-lanthanum-fluoride (YLF) solid state lasers.  The wavelength allows for use in silica fibers designed for shorter wavelengths while still providing the cutting strength of longer wave length equipment.

Holmium Oxide is also used as a yellow tinting for stained glass and ceramics.

Compounds Involving Holmium
(Handbook)

Holmium - Ho

Holmium Bromide – HoBr₃

Holmium Chloride – HoCl₃

Holmium iodide – HoI₃

Holmium Fluoride – HoF₃

Holmium Oxalate – Ho₂(C₂O₄)₃ x 10 H₂O

Holmium Oxide (Holmia) – Ho₂O₃

Recent Research About Holmium
(American Element)

1.  Pluhar GE, Thabit G, Klohnen A, et al.

    In vitro effects of holmium - YAG laser on caprine stifle retinacular restraints

    CLIN ORTHOP RELAT R (356) 239-247 NOV 1998

2.  Gebhardt JR, Ali N

     Magnetic phase diagrams of holmium determined from magnetoresistance   

    measurements

3.  J APPL PHYS 83: (11) 6299-6301 Part 2 JUN 1 1998

    Mugiya S, Ohhira T, Un-No T, et al.

    Endoscopic management of upper urinary tract disease using a 200-mu m holmium

    laser fiber: Initial experience in Japan

    UROLOGY 53: (1) 60-64 JAN 1999

4.  Suzuki YS, Momose Y, Higashi N, et al.

    Biodistribution and kinetics of holmium- 166-chitosan complex (DW- 166HC) in rats

    and mice

    J NUCL MED 39: (12) 2161-2166-DEC 1998

5.  Cohen BI, Deutsch AS, Musikant BL, et al.

    Effect of power settings versus temperature change at the root surface when using

    multiple fiber sizes with a holmium YAG laser while enlarging a root canal

    J ENDODONT 24: (12) 802-806 DEC 1998

6.  Sumiyoshi T, Sekita H

     Dual-wavelength continuous-wave cascade oscillation at 3 and 2 mu m with a

    holmium-doped fluoride-glass fiber laser

    OPT LETT 23: (23) 1837-1839 DEC 1 1998

7.  Vorob'ev AF, Monaenkova AS, Vasil'eva SV

     Enthalpies of solution of holmium, thulium, and yttrium trichlorides in

     water-formamide mixtures

    ZH FIZ KHIM+ 72: (9) 1567-1569 SEP 1998

8.  Jing G, Freidberg SR, Thomas CB, et al.

    Brain tissue response to Holmium : YAG laser irradiation

    CHINESE MED J-PEKING 111: (11) 982-987 NOV 1998

9.  Lazarev BG, Lazareva LS, Chernyak NA, et al.

     Ultimately high magnetic properties of low-temperature ferromagnets - Dysprosium

     and holmium - Produced by hydrostatic extrusion

     FIZ MET METALLOVED+ 86: (3) 46-57 SEP 1998

10. Dominiak-Dzik G, Golab S, Zawadzka J, et al.

      Spectroscopic properties of holmium doped LiTa03 crystals

      J PHYS-CONDENS MAT 10: (45) 10291-10306 NOV 16 1998