Shape Memory Property and Electronic Structures of Films of Alloys Ni_2+xMn_1-xGa

Abstract

To study the effect of the surface on the shape memory and magnetic properties, we calculated the electronic structures of the films of Ni2xMn1-xGa. Comparing the total energies for the cubic and the tetragonal structure, we found the tendency that the shape memory property may not be preserved in thin films but is recovered with increasing thickness or increasing Ni composition. It was also found that the magnetic moments on Mn are largely enhanced at the surface.