Large magnetic entropy change in the metallic antiperovskite Mn3GaC

A large positive magnetic entropy change ΔSM is observed in the metallic antiperovskite Mn3GaC near its first-order metamagnetic transition temperature 159 K where the stoichiometric compound transforms from an antiferromagnetic to a canted ferromagnetic state accompanied by a discontinuous volume change of −0.46% without change of symmetry. The unusual field dependence of the ΔSM of Mn3GaC shows a very rapid linear increase from zero to a saturation value within a field interval smaller than 1 T. The broadening of the peak of ΔSM to low temperature with increasing field change creates an ΔSM plateau in the temperature dependence of the MCE, which is of significance for practical application of these materials in the Ericsson-cycle magnetic refrigerator.