Composition and temperature dependence of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy in Ni2+xMn1+yGa1+z (x+y+z=0) Heusler alloys

The composition dependence of magnetic and structural transformations, as well as the temperature and composition dependence of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy, were studied in the martensitic Ni2+xMn1+yGa1+z (x+y+z=0) Heusler alloys. Moving away from the stoichiometric composition, a slight variation, a large reduction, and a marked enhancement, were, respectively, observed for the Curie temperature, the magnetic anisotropy, and the structural (martensitic-austenitic) transformation temperatures. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.