Composition dependence of Ni magnetic moment in Ni–Mn-based Heusler-type intermetallic compounds

Abstract Ni 2 MnGa , a promising candidate of magnetic shape memory, and its derivatives Ni 2 MnIn and Ni 2 MnSn are studied by soft X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. It is revealed that Ni 2 MnGa has the largest Ni 3d partial density of states just above the Fermi level among these three compounds. It is also shown to have the largest ratio of Ni 3d magnetic moment relative to that of Mn.