Martensitic Transformations and Magnetic Properties of Ni-Mn-Sn Heusler Alloy Films

Abstract

We report on structural and magnetic properties of Ni50Mn50-xSnx (x = 12 ÷ 14) films and compare them with those of the bulk Ni-Mn-Sn alloys.Magnetic measurements reveal clear presence of martensitic transformation in bulk alloys but in the flash-evaporated Ni-Mn-Sn thin films martensitic transformation is usually less visible.The best film samples annealed for 1 h at about 900 K exhibit clear signs of martensitic transformation: i.e., a small defect in magnetization and a substantial increase in ferromagnetic resonance line width.