Monte Carlo simulation of magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of binary alloy Gd1−xCx

The Potts-like model is utilized to describe an alloy Gd_1−xC_x with x=0, 0.025, 0.06, 0.09, and the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties are calculated by Monte Carlo method. The effect of the local distortion of the lattice due to adulterated C atom on the exchange interaction between Gd atoms can be considered. The spontaneous magnetization, specific heat, and magnetic susceptibility are calculated. It is found that the magnetization at low temperature decreases but phase transition temperature from ferromagnetic to paramagnetic increases, as the concentration of the C atom in the system increases. Moreover, the specific heat and the susceptibility exhibit peaks at the transition temperature. For two external magnetic field h/J=0.25 and 10.0, the magnitude of the isothermal magnetic entropy change in binary alloy is more than in pure Gd system. Furthermore, the range of temperature of half peak in the curve of the magnetic entropy change becomes wide and the refrigerant capacity increases in the alloy.