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 Ni 2+x Mn 1+y Ga 1+z (x + y + z + = 0) Heusler alloys. Moving away from stoichiometric composition, a slight variation, a large reduction and a marked enhancement, were respectively observed for rie temperature, the magnetic anisotropy and the structural (martensitic-austenitic) transformation temperatures.