Observation of exchange bias in the martensitic state of Ni50Mn36Sn14 Heusler alloy

Exchange bias was observed in the Ni50Mn36Sn14 Heusler alloy after field cooling by means of hysteresis loop measurement. The hysteresis loops shift along the axis of an applied field and its magnitude significantly increased with decreasing temperature below 70 K. This effect could be understood as a result of exchange anisotropy created at the interface between an antiferromagnet and a ferromagnet in the phase separated of martensitic state. Above 70 K, however, the exchange bias field disappeared and the coercivity significantly reduced owing to the fact that the pinning between an antiferromagnet and a ferromagnet becomes weaker with increasing temperature.