Kinetic arrest related to a first-order ferrimagnetic to antiferromagnetic transition in the Heusler compound Mn2PtGa

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic-glass state in Mn2PtGa, revealing a kinetically arrested first-order magnetic transition from ferrimagnetic to antiferromagnetic, influenced by magnetic field strength, distinct from structural transitions in similar alloys.

Contribution

It demonstrates the existence of a magnetic-glass state caused by kinetic arrest of a first-order magnetic transition in Mn2PtGa, a novel observation in this class of Heusler compounds.

Findings

Magnetic-glass state observed in Mn2PtGa

Kinetic arrest of FM/FI to AFM transition identified

Magnetic field controls stability of supercooled phase

Abstract

We report a magnetization study of the Heusler compound Mn2PtGa that shows the existence of a magnetic-glass state. Mn2PtGa shows a first-order ferromagnetic (FM)/ferrimagnetic (FI) to antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition in contrast to the martensitic structural transition observed in several Heusler alloys. The kinetic arrest of this first-order FM (FI) to AFM transition leads to the observed magnetic-glass behavior. We show that the strength of the applied magnetic field, which is the primary parameter to induce the magnetic-glass state, is also responsible for the stability of the supercooled FM (FI) phase in time.