title: Structural and magnetic transitions in cubic Mn3Ga.
abstract: The structural, magnetic and electron-transport properties of cubic Mn3Ga have been investigated. The alloys prepared by arc melting and melt-spinning show an antiferromagnetic spin order at room temperature but undergo coupled structural and magnetic phase transitions at 600 and 800 K. First-principles calculations show that the observed magnetic properties are consistent with that of a cubic Mn3Ga crystallizing in the disordered Cu3Au-type structure. The samples exhibit metallic electron transport with a resistance minimum near 30 K, followed by a logarithmic upturn below the minimum. The observed anomaly in the low-temperature resistivity has been discussed as a consequence of electron scattering at the low-lying excitations of the structurally disordered Mn3Ga lattice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA. Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kharel
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Aqtash
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Sabirianov
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Skomski
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sellmyer
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005708:Gallium / Q000737:chemistry*; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D008345:Manganese / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D044367:Phase Transition
chemical_list: D008345:Manganese; D005708:Gallium