Comparative study of the electronic structure and optical properties of the Heusler alloys Co2MGa and Co2MAl (M = Fe and Ni)

The electronic structure and optical properties of the Heusler alloys Co2NiGa, Co2NiAl, Co2FeGa, and Co2FeAl are reported and compared in this work. In the Fe-based alloys, Co2FeGa and Co2FeAl, the electronic structure is found to have 100% spin polarization with the indirect energy gap in the Gamma-X direction, whereas in Co2NiGa and Co2NiAl, the density of states is metallic in both spin projections with spin polarization of 55% (Co2NiGa) and 37% (Co2NiAl). Total and Co partial magnetic moments of all Heusler alloys for the optimized lattice parameters were found in a good agreement with previous calculations and experimental data. The frequency dependence of the real and imaginary parts of the complex dielectric constant for the Heusler alloys is studied in the spectrum region of 0.08-5 eV. The research results are discussed based on the performed calculations of the electronic structure. It was found that the character of variations of the spectral parameters of the alloys is typical for media with the metallic conductivity. In the IR region, the mechanism of the intraband acceleration of electrons by the light wave field dominates. The significant changes in the optical spectrum, magnetic moment, spin polarization and electronic structure were revealed in Co2MGa and Co2MAl for different M atoms which motivate further investigations of the Co-based Heusler alloys as promising materials for spintronics.

Automated summary

The electronic structure and optical properties of Co2NiGa, Co2NiAl, Co2FeGa, and Co2FeAl Heusler alloys were investigated and compared. Different spin polarizations and metallic properties were found in these alloys, and the spectral parameters exhibited characteristics typical of metallic conductivity.