Magnetic field-induced changes of lattice parameters and thermal expansion behavior of the CoMnSi compound

Abstract

The crystal structure of the CoMnSi compound during zero-field cooling and field cooling from room temperature down to 200 K was studied using the synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction technique. The results show that the lattice parameters and thermal expansion behavior of the sample are changed by the applied magnetic fields. The lattice contracts along the a axis, but expands along the b and c axes. Due to enlarged and anisotropic changes under a magnetic field of 6 T, the lattice shows an invar-like behavior along all three axes. Critical interatomic distances and bond angles also show large changes under the influence of such a high magnetic field. These magnetic field-induced changes of the lattice are discussed with respect to their contributions to the large magnetocaloric effect of the CoMnSi compound.