Direct magnetocaloric effect measurement technique in alternating magnetic fields

Abstract

A method for direct measurement of the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in alternating magnetic fields is offered. Main advantages of the method compared to a classical direct one are the high temperature sensitivity (better than 10-3 K); the ability of measuring of MCE in weak magnetic fields (by several tens oersteds and higher); the ability of measuring of MCE on small-sized samples (1x1x 0.01 mm3 and larger); the ability of measuring of MCE in alternating magnetic fields up to 50 Hz of frequency. The results on measurement of MCE on Gd and Ni-Mn-In Heusler alloy are reported.