Entropy change at the martensitic transformation in ferromagnetic shape memory alloys Ni_{2+x}Mn_{1-x}Ga

The entropy change $\Delta S$ between the high-temperature cubic phase and the low-temperature tetragonally-based martensitic phase of Ni$_{2+x}$Mn$_{1-x}$Ga ($x = 0 - 0.20$) alloys was studied. The experimental results obtained indicate that $\Delta S$ in the Ni$_{2+x}$Mn$_{1-x}$Ga alloys increases with the Ni excess $x$. The increase of $\Delta S$ is presumably accounted for by an increase of magnetic contribution to the entropy change. It is suggested that the change in modulation of the martensitic phase of Ni$_{2+x}$Mn$_{1-x}$Ga results in discontinuity of the composition dependence of $\Delta S$.Comment: presented at MMM-47, to be published in J. Appl. Phys. (May 15, 2003

Detection of weak-order phase transitions in ferromagnets by ac resistometry

It is shown that ac resistometry can serve as an effective tool for the detection of phase transitions, such as spin reorientation or premartensitic phase transitions, which generally are not disclosed by dc resistivity measurement. Measurement of temperature dependence of impedance, $Z(T)$, allows one to unmask the anomaly, corresponding to a weak-order phase transition. The appearance of such an anomaly is accounted for by a change in the effective permeability $\mu$ of a sample upon the phase transition. Moreover, frequency dependence of $\mu$ makes it possible to use the frequency of the applied ac current as an adjusting parameter in order to make this anomaly more pronounced. The applicability of this method is tested for the rare earth Gd and Heusler alloy Ni$_2$MnGa.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to be published in J. Appl. Phys., v.94(5

Magnetocaloric effect and magnetization in a Ni-Mn-Ga Heusler alloy in the vicinity of magnetostructural transition

The magnetic and thermodynamic properties of a Ni2.19Mn0.81Ga alloy with coupled magnetic and structural (martensitic) phase transitions were studied experimentally and theoretically. The magnetocaloric effect was measured by a direct method in magnetic fields 0-26 kOe at temperatures close to the magnetostructural transition temperature. For theoretical description of the alloy properties near the magnetostructural transition a statistical model is suggested, that takes into account the coexistence of martensite and austenite domains in the vicinity of martensite transformation point.Comment: presented at ICM-2003, to appear in JMM

Influence of intermartensitic transitions on transport properties of Ni2.16Mn0.84Ga alloy

Magnetic, transport, and x-ray diffraction measurements of ferromagnetic shape memory alloy Ni$_{2.16}$Mn$_{0.84}$Ga revealed that this alloy undergoes an intermartensitic transition upon cooling, whereas no such a transition is observed upon subsequent heating. The difference in the modulation of the martensite forming upon cooling from the high-temperature austenitic state [5-layered (5M) martensite], and the martensite forming upon the intermartensitic transition [7-layered (7M) martensite] strongly affects the magnetic and transport properties of the alloy and results in a large thermal hysteresis of the resistivity $\rho$ and magnetization $M$. The intermartensitic transition has an especially marked influence on the transport properties, as is evident from a large difference in the resistivity of the 5M and 7M martensite, $(\rho_{\mathrm{5M}} - \rho_{\mathrm{7M}})/\rho _{\mathrm{5M}} \approx 15$, which is larger than the jump of resistivity at the martensitic transition from the cubic austenitic phase to the monoclinic 5M martensitic phase. We assume that this significant difference in $\rho$ between the martensitic phases is accounted for by nesting features of the Fermi surface. It is also suggested that the nesting hypothesis can explain the uncommon behavior of the resistivity at the martensitic transition, observed in stoichiometric and near-stoichiometric Ni-Mn-Ga alloys.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, REVTEX