Exchange Bias in Bulk Ni5oMn35In15-xSix Heusler Alloys.

We have studied the effects of partial substitution of In by Si on the magnetic and exchange bias properties of bulk Ni50Mn35In15 Heusler alloys through magnetization measurements. Zero-field and field-cooled magnetization measurements were performed in fields up to 5 T. It was observed that an increase in the Si concentration strongly affects the ground state of the martensitic phase and the magnetic properties of compounds. It was found that exchange bias increases with increasing conduction electron concentration, and the maximum bias field was found to be ≈0.017 T at S K for a cooling field of H = 5 T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]