Magnetization,magnetocrystalline anisotropy,magnetostriction and elastic constants of the Heusler alloy: Cu2Mn Al

Three kg of stoichiometric single crystals of Cu₂Mn Al have been grown by the Bridgman method. The thermal variations of their magnetization, anisotropy, magnetostriction and elastic constants have been measured between 4.2 and 300 K. This alloy exhibits a small magnetocrystalline anisotropy, but a large elastic anisotropy $\text{(}\text{C}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{C}{}^{\mathrm{\gamma }}\text{= 4.9)}$ which explains the strong anisotropy of the magnetostriction $\text{(}\text{λ}{}^{\mathrm{\gamma ,2}}\text{λ}{}^{\mathrm{?,2}}\text{= 10)}$. The magnetic moment per Mn atom at 0 K is 3.6 μ_B.