Role Of Magnetic And Temperature Cycling On Martensite Formation In Ni2.19mn0.81ga Single Crystals Of A Heusler Alloy

The results of in situ studies of the magnetostructural transition occurring in single crystals of an Ni2.19Mn0.81Ga Heusler alloy are presented in this paper. The formation of martensitic twins on exposure to high magnetic fields up to 10T in the magnetostructural transition regime was observed using an indigenously developed optical microscope. Experiments on magnetization were performed on single crystals of Ni2.19Mn0.81Ga in high magnetic fields, a phase diagram between magnetic field and temperature was constructed, and the isothermal entropy change was estimated. Based on the experimental data and the results from optical microscopic examination, the influence of magnetic field and thermal cycling on martensitic twins and, in turn, on the magnetocaloric effect, is discussed.