The Slater-Pauling rule states that L21 Heusler compounds with 24 valence
electrons do never exhibit a total spin magnetic moment. In case of strongly
localized magnetic moments at one of the atoms (here Mn) they will exhibit a
fully compensated half-metallic ferrimagnetic state instead, in particular,
when symmetry does not allow for antiferromagnetic order. With aid of magnetic
and anomalous Hall effect measurements it is experimentally demonstrated that
Mn1.5V0.5FeAl follows such a scenario. The ferrimagnetic state is tuned by the
composition. A small residual magnetization, that arises due to a slight
mismatch of the magnetic moments in the different sublattices results in a
pronounced change of the temperature dependence of the ferrimagnet. A
compensation point is confirmed by observation of magnetic reversal and sign
change of the anomalous Hall effect. Theoretical models are presented that
correlate the electronic structure and the compensation mechanisms of the
different half-metallic ferrimagnetic states in the Mn-V-Fe-Al Heusler system.Comment: Under revie
