Structural and Magnetic Transition Temperatures of Full Heusler Ni–Mn–Sn Alloys Determined by Van der Pauw Method

Abstract

We have measured the electrical resistivity of full Heusler Ni₂Mn_2–xSn_x (0.52 ≤ x ≤ 0.6) by a Van der Pauw method to determine a first-order structural transition temperature, M_S, and a second-order magnetic transition temperature, T_C. M_S and T_C are respectively decreasing and increasing linearly with the increasing Sn content x. Although the M_S and T_C become closer, two phase transitions, i.e., the magnetic and martensitic phase transitions, do not undergo simultaneously in the range of 0.52 ≤ x ≤ 0.6.