| In this Thesis project, an experimental study on the magnetic and exchange bias properties of a series of polycrystalline Ni1.7-xMn1.7+x Ga0.6 alloys have been investigated by x-ray diffraction, dc magnetization, and ac susceptibility measurements. X-ray diffraction measurement showed that all prepared samples have a tetragonal L10 martensitic structure at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy measurements show that the compounds are single phase. With increasing Mn concentration x, the lattice parameters marginally increases. The temperature dependence of magnetization data show two distinct transitions in the alloys. At lower temperatures, a peak in the data is observed while the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition occurs at higher temperatures. With increasing Mn concentration, the temperature of both transitions increases. Thermomagnetic irreversibility is observed in the magnetization data of all alloys. The ac susceptibility measurements on the materials show the existence of frequency dependence, which suggest that the thermomagnetic irreversibility in the magnetization data is due to the spin glass like ground state in the alloys. The spin glass like ground state with competing magnetic interactions result in the observation of double-shifted hysteresis loop and exchange bias effects in the alloys. The magnitude of the exchange bias field is strongly dependent on the cooling field. |
