We present a lattice model to study the equilibrium phase diagram of ordered
alloys with one magnetic component that exhibits a low temperature phase
separation between paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phases. The model is
constructed from the experimental facts observed in Cu3−xAlMnx and it
includes coupling between configurational and magnetic degrees of freedom which
are appropriated for reproducing the low temperature miscibility gap. The
essential ingredient for the occurrence of such a coexistence region is the
development of ferromagnetic order induced by the long-range atomic order of
the magnetic component. A comparative study of both mean-field and Monte Carlo
solutions is presented. Moreover, the model may enable the study of the
structure of the ferromagnetic domains embedded in the non-magnetic matrix.
This is relevant in relation to phenomena such as magnetoresistance and
paramagnetism.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev.
