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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 January 2011
The influence is investigated of the average valence electron number on the systematic changes of a Ni2MnGa based alloy series. The experimental investigation focuses on an isoelectronic alloy series Ni2Mnx(CrFe)1-x/2Ga for which the average valence electron number is unchanged for any value of x. Based on the changes of physical properties of alloys in this series compared to Ni2MnGa it is argued that local lattice distortions are more relevant for driving the change in alloy characteristics, such as the martensitic phase transition temperature or the ferromagnetic ordering temperature, than the band filling by valence electrons.