Local Interactions and Spin Transfer Mechanisms in the Heusler‐Type Alloys Pd1+xMnSbPd1+xMnSb and Pd2MnSb0.9Sn0.1Pd2MnSb0.9Sn0.1

Abstract

The magnetic hyperfine fields at 121Sb, Heff(Sb), in the Heusler‐type alloys Pd1+xMnSbPd1+xMnSb are found to be strongly dependent on x, varying from about 600 kG for x = 1x=1 to about 300 kG for x = 0x=0. As xx is decreased from unity, the single unique value observed in Pd2MnSbPd2MnSb is replaced by a distriBution in Heff(SB), with an average value which decreases in a regular manner with the number of Pd vacancies. In Pd2MnSb0.9Sn0.1Pd2MnSb0.9Sn0.1, Heff(Sn) is found to be similar in magnitude to Heff(Sn) in Pd2MnSnPd2MnSn. Both these results indicate that local spin transfer mechanisms are important in determining the magnitude and sign of Heff at the Sb site in Heusler‐type alloys.