Magnetic properties of the martensitic phase in Ni-Mn-In-Co metamagnetic shape memory alloys

The magnetic ground state of the martensitic phase in metamagnetic shape memory alloys seems to be dependent on the analyzed system. In Ni2Mn1+xZ1−x (Z = In, Sn, and Sb) alloys, ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions coexist in the martensitic state. Different mechanisms, i.e., reentrant spin glasses, superparamagnetism, or superspin glasses have been proposed to explain the martensitic magnetic behavior. In this letter, the magnetic properties of the martensitic phase in Ni-Mn-In-Co alloys have been determined. The martensitic phase shows the presence of superparamagnetic domains inside a paramagnetic matrix. On cooling, superspin glass features occur when interacting clusters are frozen below a critical temperature.