Coexistence of cluster ferromagnetism and cluster spin-glass like behaviour in melt-quenched Cu2Mn0.5Fe0.5Al Heusler alloy

We present a detailed study of structural, magnetic and thermodynamic properties of a series of Heusler alloys Fe2-xMnxCrAl (x=0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1). Structural investigation of this series is carried out using high resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Results suggest that with increasing Mn concentration, the L21 structure of Fe2CrAl is destabilized. The DC magnetization results show a decrement in paramagnetic (PM) to ferromagnetic (FM) phase transition temperature (TC) with increasing Mn concentration. From the systematic analysis of magnetic memory effect, heat capacity, time dependent magnetization, and DC field dependent AC susceptibility studies it is observed that, Fe2CrAl exhibits cluster glass(CG)-like transition approximately at 3.9 K (Tf2). The alloys, Fe1.75Mn0.25CrAl and Fe1.5Mn0.5CrAl exhibit double CG-like transitions near Tf1~22 K, Tf2~4.2 K and Tf1~30.4 K, Tf2~9.5 K respectively, however, in Fe1.25Mn0.75CrAl, a single CG-like transition is noted at Tf2~11.5 K below TC. Interestingly, FeMnCrAl shows the absence of long ranged magnetic ordering and this alloy undergoes three CG-like transitions at ~ 22 K (Tf*), 16.6 K (Tf1) and 11 K (Tf2). At high temperatures, a detailed analysis of temperature response of inverse DC susceptibility clearly reveals the observation of Griffiths phase (GP) above 300 K (T*) in Fe2CrAl and this phase persists with Mn concentration with a decrement in T*.

Exotic magnetic behaviour and evidence of cluster glass and Griffiths like phase in Heusler alloys Fe2-xMnxCrAl

Griffiths phase and spontaneous magnetization in polycrystalline Co50V34Ga16 alloy

Effect of partial substitution of iso-valent Mo at Cr-site on electronic structure and physical properties of Fe2CrAl

Structural, electronic and magnetic properties of the Heusler alloy Mn2VIn have been investigated using the density functional theory and experimental techniques. Unlike many other Heusler compounds, Mn2VIn is not predicted to be half-metallic at the optimized lattice constant, but is highly spin polarized at a slightly lower lattice constant. It however exhibits ferrimagnetic coupling between the Mn and V sublattices, as expected of Mn-based Heuslers. We have, then, synthesized the compound by arc melting and studied magnetic properties that are of interest fundamentally and for technological applications. The structural properties were determined using X-ray diffraction, revealing the presence of cubic and tetragonal phases in the sample. The chemical composition was determined using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy together with the scanning electron microscope, and the magnetic properties were investigated by superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry. The alloy exhibits superparamagnetic spin blocking with a blocking temperature $T_{B}$ of 40 K.

Structural, Electronic and Magnetic Properties of the Heusler Alloy Mn 2 VIn: A Combined DFT and Experimental Study

We investigated the structural and magnetic properties of Cu
 2
Mn
 1-x
Fe
 x
Al (x = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75) alloys. Among the three compositions, only x = 0.25 composition crystallizes in single phase with L2
 1
 structure but its magnetic response indicates a complex magnetic structure. The magnetic isotherms were fitted to modified Langevin equation which indicates the presence of clusters with large magnetic moment. The ac susceptibility studies showed the presence of a superparamagnetic phase in the system over and above ferromagnetic order. To determine the nature of the interactions among the clusters, the variation of freezing temperature (T
 f
) with applied ac frequency was analyzed using different models (Neel-Arrhenius, Vogel-Fulcher, and critical slowing down model).

Narayanan Harish Kumar

Papers

Complex Magnetic Behavior of the Heusler Alloy—Cu 2 Mn 0.75 Fe 0.25 Al