The theory of the premelting phenomena in ionic crystals has been developed on the basis of the concept of heterophase fluctuation in the vicinity of their melting points. The size of the liquid-like clusters is estimated by the theory using the experimental specific heat value. Molecular dynamics simulations are also performed in NaCl and AgBr crystals to examine the ionic configuration in the premelting region. The structural features are discussed using the Lindemann instability criterion.

The precise magnetic-field-induced strain (MFIS) and magnetization of the martensite metallic compound Fe3Pt in a martensitic phase were studied in a pulsed magnetic field using the capacitance method at low temperatures down to 4.2 K, which is much lower than the martensitic transformation temperature TM=85 K. After zero field cooling, a pulsed magnetic field with a maximum frequency of 160 Hz was applied parallel to the [001]p axis. A large MFIS was measured. The value of the MFIS is ΔL/L=-1.7%. When the magnetic field was decreased, the recovery of the strain was observed. In the second applied field, a strain of about 0.6% was observed. This means that MFIS occurs even in short-pulse magnetic fields. MFIS was observed below 70 K. The largest strain was observed at 20 K. These results are almost the same as the MFIS in a steady magnetic field using a superconducting magnet.