Phenomenological modeling of magnetic and magnetocaloric properties in rare earth doped La0.8Ca0.2MnO3.

La_0.8Ca_0.2MnO₃ manganese oxides have been prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction. The samples crystallize in the orthorhombic structure with Pnma space group. A first-order magnetic phase transition from ferromagnetic to paramagnetic state is observed at the Curie temperature that is found to be around 241 K. The magnetic and magnetocaloric properties have been simulated using a phenomenological model. The maximum of magnetic entropy change is of order 8.2 J/kg K for an applied magnetic field of 5 T, and the adiabatic temperature change is found to be of 4 K under a same magnetic field; this high value gives the sample the possibility of technologic application in the magnetic refrigeration area. The simulated results of magnetization and magnetic entropy change are compared with the experimental measurements. Finely, we found a good agreement between experimental and theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]