Monte Carlo Study of Magnetostructural Phase Transitions in Ni_(50)Mn_(25+x)Sb_(25-x) Heusler Alloys

摘要

On the basis of Monte Carlo simulations, we investigate the temperature dependence of magnetization of Ni-Mn-Sb Heusler alloys, in which the part of the Mn atoms interact antiferromagnetically. It is shown that this antiferromagnetic exchange is responsible for existence of several magnetic phase transitions in the Heusler alloys. For a certain set of parameters of the model Hamiltonian we obtain coupled martensitic and magnetic phase transitions. Results of simulations agree in an excellent way with the experimental magnetization curves.