Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: This paper reports on the bulk properties of the quaternary Heusler alloy ${\mathrm{Co}}_{2}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{x}\mathrm{Si}$ with the Fe concentration $x=0,1∕2,1$. All samples, which were prepared by arc melting, exhibit $L{2}_{1}$ long-range order over the complete range of Fe concentration. The structural and magnetic properties of the ${\mathrm{Co}}_{2}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{x}\mathrm{Si}$ Heusler alloys were investigated by means of x-ray diffraction, high- and low-temperature magnetometry, M\"ossbauer spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The electronic structure was explored by means of high-energy photoemission spectroscopy at about $8\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{keV}$ photon energy. This ensures true bulk sensitivity of the measurements. The magnetization of the Fe-doped Heusler alloys is in agreement with the values of the magnetic moments expected for a Slater-Pauling-like behavior of half-metallic ferromagnets. The experimental findings are discussed on the basis of self-consistent calculations of the electronic and magnetic structure. To achieve good agreement with experiment, the calculations indicate that on-site electron-electron correlation must be taken into account, even at low Fe concentration. The present investigation focuses on searching for the quaternary compound where the half-metallic behavior is stable against outside influences. Overall, the results suggest that the best candidate may be found at an iron concentration of about 50%.
Source: Physical Review B
Authors: Benjamin Balke, Gerhard H. Fecher, Hem C. Kandpal, Claudia Felser, Keisuke Kobayashi, Eiji Ikenaga, Jung-Jin Kim, Shigenori Ueda
Language: English
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Award: G5344445106
OpenAlex ID: W1976515283