Magnetocaloric effect in ferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic systems under first and second order phase transition

Abstract: In this work we present a model to describe the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in ferrimagnetic arrangements. Our model takes into account the magnetoelastic interactions in the two coupled magnetic sublattices, which can lead to the onset of the first order magnetic phase transition and the giant-MCE. Several profiles of the MCE, such as: the inverse- and giant-MCE were systematically studied. Application of the model to the ferromagnetic compounds GdAl2, Gd5(Ge1.72Si2.28), Gd5(Ge2Si2), and to the ferrimagnetic compound Y3Fe5O12 was performed, showing a good agreement with the experimental data. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]