Dilatometric study of Ni2+xMn1-xGa under magnetic field

A study of polycrystalline and single crystalline Ni$_{2+x}$Mn$_{1-x}$Ga alloys by means of dilatometric and strain gage techniques shows that large strain can be induced in the temperature range of the martensitic transformation by application of an external magnetic field. The biggest strain induced by magnetic field was observed in the samples of chemical compositions where the structural and magnetic transitions couple, i.e. occur at the same temperature.