The nature of the frequency dependence of the adiabatic temperature change in Ni50Mn28Ga22-x(Cu, Zn)x Heusler alloys in cyclic magnetic fields

This study presents the results of direct measurements of the adiabatic temperature change (∆Tad) in Ni50Mn28Ga22−x(Cu, Zn)x (x = 0; 1,5) alloys in cyclic magnetic fields of 0.62 and 1.2 T at frequencies f= 1, 5, 10, and 20 Hz. The substitution of zinc and copper for the initial composition resulted in a decrease in ∆Tad and a stronger frequency dependence. The strong frequency dependence of ∆Tad near TC in the Ni50Mn28Ga22−x(Cu, Zn)x system is due to the inhomogeneous microstructure and the coexistence of martensite-austenite phases, which give rise to two simultaneously acting mechanisms. Firstly, the addition of Zn and Cu increases the coercive force HC, resulting in an increase in the viscosity coefficient. Secondly, an increase in the frequency of the cyclic magnetic field (i.e., an increase in the field sweep rate) leads to the same effect, increasing the viscosity coefficient. Which, in our opinion, is the reason for the frequency dependences of ∆Tad near TC. The study found that the specific cooling power (SCP) for the Ni50Mn28Ga22 sample in a cyclic magnetic field of 1.2 T increased with frequency, reaching 4.75 W/g at 20 Hz, which is 14.1 times greater than at 1 Hz. This suggests that, under conditions of sufficient heat exchange, the cooling efficiency of a magnetic refrigerator can be greatly improved by increasing the operating frequency.