Theoretical and experimental investigation of magnetic order in Mn2PtIn

Here, we present the results of a combined computational and experimental study of magnetic and structural properties of a Heusler compound Mn2PtIn. In particular, we analyze the effect of biaxial strain on tetragonal distortion and magnetic properties of this alloy. It is shown that the ground state of this material corresponds to tetragonal symmetry, with possible non-collinear magnetic alignment. At the same time, our calculations indicate that this system may also exhibit ferrimagnetic alignment of magnetic moments. Analysis of exchange couplings indicates that ferrimagnetic alignment is more likely to be realized in practice. The interplay between these two magnetic phases may be achieved by strain engineering and thus may have practical applications in spintronics. The sample prepared by arc melting crystallizes in the tetragonal structure and exhibits ferrimagnetic/non-collinear magnetic ordering, with a saturation magnetization of 1.5 μB/f.u., a coercivity of 2 kOe, and a Curie temperature of 350 K. In addition, a pronounced splitting between the zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled-warming (FCW) curves and an exchange bias effect arising from the interaction of magnetically inhomogeneous regions are observed.