Magnetic phase transitions and magnetocaloric properties of Gd_5Si_(0.4)In_(3.6) compound

摘要

The magnetic phase transitions and magnetocaloric properties of Gd_5Si_(0.4)In_(3.6) compound have been investigated. Magnetothermal measurements performed at different conditions reveal that the sample undergoes two magnetic phase transitions. One is a second-order transition from paramagnetic to ferromagnetic state at about 197 K, the other is a first-order transition when the temperature is reduced to 75 K. The magnetocaloric effect around Curie temperature (T_C) was calculated in terms of isothermal magnetic entropy change by using Maxwell's equation, which remains over a quite wide temperature span of 70 K between the temperature region from 160 to 240 K, and thus makes this material attractive for magnetic refrigerator applications.