Low field induced giant magnetocaloric effect in TmGa compound

The magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect in TmGa compound are investigated. TmGa exhibits two successive magnetic transitions: ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic at T-FA = 12 K and antiferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition at T-N = 15 K. Under field changes of 1 and 2 T, giant reversible values of magnetic entropy change (12.9 and 20.6 J/kg K) and large values of refrigerant capacity (69 and 149 J/kg) are observed, respectively. Additionally, the maximal values of adiabatic temperature change are 3.2 and 5 K for field changes of 1 and 2 T, respectively. The TmGa compound with excellent magnetocaloric effect is expected to have effective applications in low temperature magnetic refrigeration. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.