Large field-induced magnetocaloric effect and magnetoresistance in ErNiSi.

Large magnetocaloric effect (MCE) and magnetoresistance (MR) together with negligible hysteresis loss have been observed in ErNiSi compound, which undergoes metamagnetic transition at low temperatures. Magnetization, heat capacity, and resistivity measurements confirm the metamagnetic transition. Both MCE and MR follow H² dependence in the paramagnetic regime. The maximum value of isothermal entropy change (ΔSM) and MR for a field change of 50 kOe are found to be 19.1 J/kg K and ~34%, respectively. Large MCE with negligible magnetic hysteresis loss could make this material promising for low temperature magnetic refrigeration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]