Kinetic arrest related to a first-order ferrimagnetic to antiferromagnetic transition in the Heusler compound Mn2PtGa

Abstract

We report a magnetization study of the Heusler compound Mn₂PtGa that shows the existence of a magnetic-glass state. Mn₂PtGa shows a first-order ferromagnetic (FM)/ferrimagnetic (FI) to antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition in contrast to the martensitic structural transition observed in several Heusler alloys. The kinetic arrest of this first-order FM (FI) to AFM transition leads to the observed magnetic-glass behavior. We show that the strength of the applied magnetic field, which is the primary parameter to induce the magnetic-glass state, is also responsible for the stability of the supercooled FM (FI) phase in time.