Thermodynamic properties of Heusler Fe2VSi

Abstract

We investigated temperature, T, dependence of magnetization, M(T), electrical resistivity, ρ(T), and specific heat, Cp(T), for the Heusler compound Fe2VSi. M(T) shows anomalies at TN1 ∼ 115 K and at TN2 ∼ 35 K. The anomaly at TN1 is caused by the magnetic transition with a crystal structural change. On the other hand, ρ(T) and Cp(T) show only anomaly at TN1, and no trace of anomaly at TN2 is observed. Because of the irreversibility of M(T), which is the characteristic of spin-glass freezing, appears below TN2, a spin-glass freezing may occur at TN2. From the analogy of the Heusler compound (Fe1−xVx)3Si with the cubic D03 crystal structure, (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2), we suggested that the atomic disorder of V site by the Fe atoms gives rise to the magnetic frustration. This could be cause for the spin-glass freezing. By the Clausius-Clapeyron relation, pressure, P, derivative of TN1, (dTN1dP), is estimated to be ∼−10 K/Gpa.