Scaling of the entropy change at the magnetoelastic transition in Gd5(SixGe1-x)4

Abstract

Differential scanning calorimetry under a magnetic field H has been used to measure the entropy change DS at the magnetoelastic transition in Gd5(SixGe12x)4 alloys, for x<0.5. We show that DS scales with the transition temperature, Tt , which is tuned by x and H, from 70 to 310 K. Such a scaling demonstrates that Tt is the relevant parameter in determining the giant magnetocaloric effect in these alloys, and proves that the magnetovolume effects due to H are of the same nature as the volume effects caused by substitution