Direct measurements of magnetocaloric effect in the first-order system LaFe[sub 11.7]Si[sub 1.3].

The magnetocaloric effect was investigated in LaFe[sub 11.7]Si[sub 1.3], which undergoes a first-order transition at ∼188 K from the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic state. The magnetic entropy change upon a field increase from 0 to 5 T is as large as 29 J/kg K (212 mJ/cm[sup 3] K). The adiabatic temperature change obtained via direct measurements reaches 4 K under a field change from 0 to 1.4 T. The large values of entropy change and adiabatic temperature change confirmed the large potential of present compound LaFe[sub 11.7]Si[sub 1.3] as a magnetic refrigerant in the corresponding temperature range. © 2003 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]