Influence of Ni/Mn ratio on magnetostructural transformation and magnetocaloric effect in Ni_(48-x)Co_2Mn_(38+x)Sn_(12)(x = 0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0,and 2.5) ferromagnetic shape memory alloys

An investigation on the magnetostructural transformation and magnetocaloric properties of Ni_(48-x)Co_2Mn_(38+x)Sn_(12)(x = 0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5) ferromagnetic shape memory alloys is carried out. With the partial replacement of Ni by Mn in the Ni_(48)Co_2Mn_(38)Sn_(12) alloy, the electron concentration decreases. As a result, the martensitic transformation temperature is decreased into the temperature window between the Curie-temperatures of austenite and martensite. Thus, the samples with x = 1.5 and 2.0 exhibit the magnetostructural transformation between the weak-magnetization martensite and ferromagnetic austenite at room temperature. The structural transformation can be induced not only by the temperature,but also by the magnetic field. Accompanied by the magnetic-field-induced magnetostructural transformation, a considerable magnetocaloric effect is observed. With the increase of x, the maximum entropy change decreases, but the effective magnetic cooling capacity increases.     

Magnetic phase transition and magnetocaloric effect in Mn_(1-x)Zn_xCoGe alloys

The magnetic phase transition and magnetocaloric effect are studied in a series of Mn1-xZnxCoGe(x = 0.01, 0.02,0.04, and 0.08) alloys. By introducing a small quantity of Zn element, the structural transformation temperature of the MnCoGe alloy is greatly reduced and a first-order magnetostructural transition is observed. Further increasing the Zn concentration results in a second-order ferromagnetic transition. Large room-temperature magnetocaloric effects with small magnetic hysteresis are obtained in alloys with x = 0.01 and 0.02, which suggests their potential application in magnetic refrigeration.     

Biaxial strain in the hexagonal plane of MnAs thin films: the key to stabilize ferromagnetism to higher temperature

The alpha-beta magnetostructural phase transition in MnAs/GaAs(111) epilayers is investigated by elastic neutron scattering. The in-plane parameter of MnAs remains almost constant with temperature from 100 to 420 K, following the thermal evolution of the GaAs substrate. This induces a temperature dependent biaxial strain that is responsible for an alpha-beta phase coexistence and, more importantly, for the stabilization of the ferromagnetic alpha phase at a higher temperature than in the bulk. We explain the premature appearance of the beta phase at 275 K and the persistence of the ferromagnetic alpha phase up to 350 K with thermodynamical arguments based on the MnAs phase diagram. It results that the biaxial strain in the hexagonal plane is the key parameter to extend the ferromagnetic phase well over room temperature.     

Magnetic phase transitions and magnetocaloric effect in the Fe-doped MnNiGe alloys

The magnetic phase transition and magnetocaloric effects in Fe-doped MnNiGe alloys are investigated. The substitution of Fe for Ni decreases the structural transition temperature remarkably, resulting in the magnetostructural transition occurring between antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic states in MnNi_{1 - x}Fe_xGe alloy. Owing to the enhanced ferromagnetic coupling induced by the substitution of Fe, metamagnetic behaviour is also observed in TiNiSi-type phase of MnNi_{1 - x}Fe_xGe alloys at temperature below the structural transition temperature.     

Successive inverse and normal magnetocaloric effects in the Mn-vacancy compound Mn_(0.95)Co_(0.75)Cu_(0.25)Ge

Ferromagnetic-structural transformation has been studied widely in MnCoGe-based materials. However, the magnetostructural transition(MST) from antiferromagnetic(AFM) orthorhombic phase to ferromagnetic(FM) hexagonal phase, which may lead to a large inverse magnetocaloric effect(MCE), has rarely been reported. Here, the introduction of Mn vacancy lowers the structural transition temperature while retains the AFM state in the orthorhombic phase, thus successfully realizing the AFM-FM MST in Mn_(0.95)Co_(0.75)Cu_(0.25)Ge. Moreover, successive inverse and normal MCEs are observed around the first-order AFM-FM MST and the second-order FM-paramagnetic(PM) transition, respectively. A thermostat is proposed based on this special feature, which could release heat above the critical temperature while absorb heat below the critical temperature by simply applying the same magnetization/demagnetization cycles. This thermostat can be very useful in many applications where a constant temperature is required, such as cryostats and incubators.     

Magnetostructural phase transitions in manganese arsenide single crystals

The effect of an external magnetic field with a strength up to 140 kOe on the phase transitions in manganese arsenide single crystals has been investigated. The existence of unstable magnetic and crystal structures at temperatures above the Curie temperature T _C = 308 K has been established. The displacements of manganese and arsenic atoms during the magnetostructural phase transition and the shift in the temperature of the first-order magnetostructural phase transition in a magnetic field have been determined. It has been shown that the magnetocaloric effect in a magnetic field of 140 kOe near the Curie temperature T _C is equal to ??T ?? 13 K. A model of the superparamagnetic state in MnAs above the temperature T _C has been proposed using the data on the magnetic properties and structural transformation in the region of the first-order magnetostructural phase transition. It has been demonstrated that, at temperatures close to T _C, apart from the contribution to the change in the entropy from the change in the magnetization there is a significant contribution from the transformation of the crystal lattice due to the magnetostructural phase transition.     

替代掺杂的MnNiGe1-xGax合金中马氏体相变和磁-结构耦合特性

研究了MnNiGe_1-xGa_x (x=0–0.30) 系列合金中成分、结构、马氏体相变性质和磁性的相互关系. 在较小的成分范围内, Ga取代Ge元素可有效地将马氏体相变温度降低近400 K. Ga的引入削弱了体系中的共价成键作用, 马氏体相显示出磁交换作用的增强. 相图显示, 掺杂使马氏体相变先后穿过T_N 和T_C 两个磁有序温度, 居里温度窗口效应在体系有存在的可能, 磁性对相变温度的成分关系有所影响. 实验观察到合金变磁转变的特性及相变行为对制备方法的敏感性. 这些特性的发现, 有利于进一步优化这类材料的磁结构和相变特性, 获得具有应用价值的新材料. 关键词： MM’X合金 马氏体相变 磁有序温度 变磁转变     

Magnetostructural transition in NiCuCoMnGa alloys

The effects of the addition of Co on the martensitic transformation and Curie transition temperatures of polycrystalline Ni46-xCu4CoxMn33.sGa16.5 （x = 0, 1, 3, 5） alloys are investigated. An abrupt decrease in the martensitic transformation temperature and an obvious increase in the Curie transition temperature of austenite （TA） are observed when Co is doped in the NiCuMnGa alloy. As a result, the composition range for obtaining the magnetostructural transition is extended. Furthermore, the effect of a strong magnetic field on the magnetostructural transition is analyzed. This study offers a possible method to extend the composition range for obtaining magnetostructural transition in Heusler alloys.     

Effect of Sb-doping on martensitic transformation and magnetocaloric effect in Mn-rich Mn_(50)Ni_(40)Sn_(10-x)Sb_x(x=1,2,3,and 4) alloys

We investigate the influence of Sb-doping on the martensitic transformation and magnetocaloric effect in Mn_(50)Ni_(40)Sn_(10-x)Sb_x(x = 1, 2, 3, and 4) alloys. All the prepared samples exhibit a B2-type structure with the space group F m3 m at room temperature. The substitution of Sb increases the valence electron concentration and decreases the unit cell volume. As a result, the magnetostructural transformation shifts rapidly towards higher temperatures as x increases.The changes in magnetic entropy under different magnetic field variations are explored around this transformation. The isothermal magnetization curves exhibit typical metamagnetic behavior, indicating that the magnetostructural transformation can be induced by a magnetic field. The tunable martensitic transformation and magnetic entropy changes suggest that Mn_(50)Ni_(40)Sn_(10-x)Sb_x alloys are attractive candidates for applications in solid-state refrigeration.     

Nonequilibrium phase transitions in ferromagnetic semiconductors (EuO<Subscript>1–δ</Subscript>)

The features of metal‒semiconductor kinetic phase transformation in ferromagnetic semiconductors are studied. It is shown that heat release caused by current results in a positive feedback between the current density and the sample temperature, magnetization, and thermal-spin fluctuation amplitude. The Joule heating of the sample leads to disappearance of magnetization and, as a result, to restoration of the forbidden band between the conduction and valence bands. However, the energy gap width continues to change due to an increase in the fluctuations of internal exchange fields splitting the electron states. Within the framework of the developed model, an S-shaped volt-ampere characteristic is obtained for a EuO_1–δ, ferromagnetic semiconductor. The lower branch of the characteristic corresponds to a ferromagnetic metal state (a “cold” phase) and the upper one is due to a semiconductor paramagnetic state (a “hot” phase).     

Magnetostructural phase transformation and shape memory effect of Fe-added Ni<Subscript>2</Subscript>MnGa films

The magnetostructural phase transformation and shape memory effect (SME) of Fe-added Ni₂MnGa films were investigated. The free-standing films were heat-treated at 1073 K for 3.6 ks and constraint-aged (CA) at various conditions (473 ~ 723 K, 0 ~ 14.4 ks) to make the two-way SME. The reversible two-way SME by the temperature change was confirmed through the martensitic transformation (MT) and its reversion. The gradient of strain-temperature curve, the effective recovery strain and the width of thermal hysteresis were dependent on the CA conditions. The magnetic field (MF) induced structural phase transformation was evaluated by an XRD apparatus in high MF up to 5 T. It was confirmed that the martensitic phase was stabilized by the MF. Furthermore, the SME by the MF was observed around MT temperature on cooling process for the CA film. It was concluded that the MF induced SME appeared by the induction of the MT with MF.     

Quantum-mechanically induced asymmetry in the phase diagrams of spin-glass systems

The spin-1/2 quantum Heisenberg spin-glass system is studied in all spatial dimensions d by renormalization-group theory. Strongly asymmetric phase diagrams in temperature and antiferromagnetic bond probability p are obtained in dimensions d>or=3. The asymmetry at high temperatures approaching the pure ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic systems disappears as d is increased. However, the asymmetry at low but finite temperatures remains in all dimensions, with the antiferromagnetic phase receding from the ferromagnetic phase. A finite-temperature second-order phase boundary directly between the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases occurs in d>or=6, resulting in a new multicritical point. In d=3, 4, 5, a paramagnetic phase reaching zero temperature intervenes asymmetrically between the ferromagnetic and reentrant antiferromagnetic phases. There is no spin-glass phase in any dimension.     

Spontaneous distortion in the spin-1/2 Ising-Heisenberg model on decorated planar lattices with a magnetoelastic coupling

Magnetoelastic properties of the spin-1/2 Ising-Heisenberg model on doubly decorated planar lattices partially amenable to lattice vibrations are examined within the framework of the harmonic approximation and decoration-iteration transformation. It is shown that the magnetoelastic coupling may lead to a spontaneous distortion of the vibrating decorating atoms and the mutual interplay between quantum spin fluctuations and local lattice deformations enhances typical quantum features like the quantum reduction of the magnetization in the ground state of the quantum antiferromagnetic phase, while it does not affect the ground-state behaviour of the classical ferromagnetic phase. It also turns out that the spontaneous distortion is responsible for a much more pronounced reduction of the critical temperature in the quantum antiferromagnetic phase than in the classical ferromagnetic phase.     

Formation of phase domain structures in thin films under conditions of a first-order magnetic phase transition

This paper reports on the results of a theoretical investigation into the magnetic and resonance properties of thin films in the range of the transition from a paramagnetic state to a ferromagnetic state in the case where the magnetic transition is a first-order phase transformation. It is demonstrated that, in an external magnetic field directed perpendicular to the film plane, the formation of a specific domain structure consisting of domains of the coexisting paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phases can appear to be energetically favorable. The parameters of the equilibrium system of stripe phase domains and their dependences on the temperature, the magnetic field, and the characteristics of the material are calculated. The specific features of the magnetic resonance spectra under the conditions of formed stripe phase domains are considered. A relationship is derived for the dependence of the resonance field of the system of ferromagnetic domains on the magnetization and temperature. It is shown that the alternating external field can fulfill an orientation function in the formation of stripe phase domains.     

Role of Ge in bridging ferromagnetism in the giant magnetocaloric Gd5(Ge1-xSix)4 alloys

X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements and density functional theory (DFT) are used to study the electronic conduction states in Gd5(Ge(1-x)Si(x))4 materials through the first-order bond-breaking magnetostructural transition responsible for their giant magnetocaloric effect. Spin-dependent hybridization between Ge 4p and Gd 5d conduction states, which XMCD senses through the induced magnetic polarization in Ge ions, enables long-range Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida ferromagnetic interactions between Gd 4f moments in adjacent Gd slabs connected by Ge(Si) bonds. These interactions are strong below but weaken above the Ge(Si) bond-breaking transition that destroys 3D ferromagnetic order.     

Magnetic,thermal, and electrical properties of an Ni<Subscript>45.37</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>40.91</Subscript>In<Subscript>13.72</Subscript> Heusler alloy

The magnetization, the electrical resistivity, the specific heat, the thermal conductivity, and the thermal diffusion of a polycrystalline Heusler alloy Ni_45.37Mn_40.91In_13.72 sample are studied. Anomalies, which are related to the coexistence of martensite and austenite phases and the change in their ratio induced by a magnetic field and temperature, are revealed and interpreted. The behavior of the properties of the alloy near Curie temperature T_C also demonstrates signs of a structural transition, which suggests that the detected transition is a first-order magnetostructural phase transition. The nontrivial behavior of specific heat detected near the martensite transformation temperatures is partly related to a change in the electron density of states near the Fermi level. The peculiar peak of phonon thermal conductivity near the martensitic transformation is interpreted as a consequence of the appearance of additional soft phonon modes, which contribute to the specific heat and the thermal conductivity.     

Fabrication of L10 FePtAg nanoparticles and a study of the effect of Ag during the annealing process

L1₀ ferromagnetic phase FePt nanoparticles containing Ag atoms (FePtAg) were synthesized by means of a liquid phase process, followed by annealing. The addition of Ag to FePt nanoparticles permits annealing to be conducted at a lower temperature (350 °C). This is further accompanied by a subsequent transformation in the crystal phase from the FCC superparamagnetic phase to the FCT (L1₀) ferromagnetic phase. The effects of annealing temperature and the Ag atoms inside the nanoparticles on the magnetic properties of the FePt nanoparticles have been studied. Using electron spectroscopy for the chemical analysis (ESCA), Ag atoms in the L1₀ phase FePtAg nanoparticles were found to be localized on the surface region of the annealed nanoparticles. The Ag atoms function to inhibit the oxidation of FePt, causing the particles to become more stable and to have ferromagnetic properties.     

Molecular theory of nematic liquid crystals viewed as effect of collective excitation in ferromagnetic systems

We develop a microscopic theory of the nematic phase with consideration of the effect of the collective excitation on properties of nematic liquid crystals. The model is based on the Heisenberg's exchange model of the ferromagnetic materials. Since the orientation of the molecular long axis and the angular momentum of the molecule rotating around its long axis have the same direction, operators can be introduced to research the nematic liquid crystals. Using the lattice model and the Holstein--Primakoff transformation, the Hamiltonian of the system can be obtained, which has the same form as that of the ferromagnetic substance. The relation between the order parameter and reduced temperature can be gotten. It is in good agreement with the experimental results in the low temperature region, the accordance is better than that of the molecular field theory and the computer simulation. In high temperature region close to the transition point, by considering the effect of the higher-order terms in the Hamiltonian, theoretical prediction is in better agreement with the experiment. That indicates the many-body effect is important to nematic liquid crystals.     

Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of martensitic Ni2Mn1.4Sn0.6 Heusler alloy

The evolutions of magnetic properties at low temperatures and the influence of magnetic field on the temperature dependence of specific heat in martensitic Ni₂Mn_1.4Sn_0.6 Heusler alloy are studied. The frequency-dependent blocking temperature and considerable exchange bias below it are measured in the martensitic phase. From the analysis of the specific heat curves under magnetic field, a large inverse magnetocaloric effect manifested as the magnetic field induced rise of isothermal magnetic entropy and/or magnetic field induced adiabatic temperature decrease in the vicinity of the reverse magnetostructural transformation and a significant value of the conventional magnetocaloric effect at the Curie temperature are obtained. The Debye temperature and electronic coefficient equal to Θ_D=310±2 K and γ= 16.6±0.3 mJ/K²mol, respectively, do not depend on the magnetic field.     

低温时效处理对铁磁形状记忆合金Mn2NiGa的结构、相变和磁性能的影响

对在较低温度范围的时效处理铁磁形状记忆合金Mn₂NiGa的结构、相变和磁性进行了研究.研究发现,母相基体析出了细小的析出相,引起了晶格扭曲和畸变,导致了系统内产生了很大的内应力.在其浓度超过晶格的容忍度之后,提升了体系的马氏体相变温度,使母相在时效温度下转变成马氏体相,并在其中测量到高达900 Oe的矫顽力.由于这种马氏体相的逆相变温度大幅提高,外推获得其居里温度在530 K附近.细小析出相的粗化使内应力消失,样品又回到母相状态.观察到细小析出相粗化的两个阈值温度,分别为423 K和 关键词： 铁磁形状记忆合金 2NiGa')" href="#">Mn₂NiGa 时效处理 内应力