Temperature dependence of elastic properties in austenite and martensite of Ni-Mn-Ga epitaxial films

Abstract

Using surface acoustic waves (SAW) the elastic properties of 500 nm thick epitaxial off-stoichiometric Ni-Mn-Ga films prepared by sputtering on MgO substrate were determined in a broad temperature range both in austenite and martensite and across the martensitic transformation. At room temperature the films were in non-modulated martensite with tweed-like microstructure. Structural and magnetic studies proved that the martensitic structure can be considered homogenous on the scale of surface waves owing to the fine twinning. Measured angular dependence of SAW velocities indicated that the averaged in-plane tetragonal structure can be used for the calculation of elastic coefficients in martensite. The phase velocity of SAW showed an anomaly around the phase transition temperature due to changes of the shear elastic coefficients, c'and c44. During cooling there was a gradual softening of c' in austenite. The softening turned to stiffening at the onset of the martensitic transformation while c44 sharply decreased. The shear coefficients for martensite and paramagnetic austenite of the film are comparable to Ni-Mn-Ga bulk single crystal. No significant effect of magnetic field on elastic coefficients was detected in agreement with the bulk.