Magnetoresistance in ferromagnetic shape memory alloy NiMnFeGa

The magnetoresistance (MR){=[R(H)-R(0)]/R(0)} properties in ferromagnetic shape memory alloy of NiMnFeGa ribbons and single crystals, and NiFeGa ribbons have been investigated. It is found that the NiMnFeGa melt-spun ribbon exhibited GMR effect, arising from the spin-dependent scattering from magnetic inhomogeneities consisting of antiferromagnetically coupled Mn atoms in B2 structure. In the absence of these magnetic inhomogeneities, Heusler alloys seem to show a common linear MR behavior at around 0.8T_C, regardless of sample structures. This may be explained by the sd model. At low temperatures, conventional AMR behaviors due to the spinorbital coupling are observed. This is most likely due to the diminished MR from sd model because of much less spin fluctuation, and is not associated with martensite phase. MR anomaly at intermediate field (ρ_⊥>ρ_||) is also observed in single crystal samples, which may be related to unique features of Heusler alloys.