High Field X-Ray Diffraction Studies on MnFeP0.5As0.5

Abstract

High field X-ray diffraction measurement was performed on a ferromagnetic compound MnFeP0.5As0.5 which is recently found to be a new candidate as magnetic refrigeration materials. The compound with a hexagonal Fe2P-type structure shows a field-induced isostructural phase transformation with a hysteresis by applying a magnetic field, accompanied by the metamagnetic transition from the paramagnetic to the ferromagnetic state at just above the Curie temperature of 284 K. We found that the cell volume slightly and continuously decreases with increasing magnetic fields through the field-induced phase transition, although the lattice parameter ratio c/a drastically changes.