Kinetic arrest and exchange bias in L1(0) Ni-Mn-Ga

Abstract

Ni-Mn-Ga Heusler alloys are particularly interesting for their magnetic shape-memory properties. However, more recently, the observation of magnetic glass-like behavior in these alloys, particularly at low Ga concentrations, has extended the interest in the properties of these alloys. We have investigated the thermomagnetic properties of the Ni49.8Mn39.1Ga12.1 Heusler alloy with (e/a) = 7.98. In this alloy with relatively low Ga concentration, we find kinetic arrest and exchange-bias effects occurring concurrently. We show that these effects are related to the presence of mixed ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions and that the two components are magnetically phase-separated. (C) 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim