Coupling of plastic deformation and magnetism in Heusler alloys: an in situ microLaue experiment during compression of micropillars

Magnetic interactions strongly depend on local order and interatomic distances. Hence mechanical deformation can lead to interesting modifications of magnetic ordering. Recently the group at University of California at Santa Barbara has observed a decrease in net magnetization after plastic deformation of compressed ingots or ground powders of the Heusler alloys MnAu2Al. These experiments have clearly evidenced the role of plastic deformation on magnetic properties in this intermetallic alloy; the converse could also be a potent effect wherein long-range magnetic order could influence the energy landscape for dislocations and their mobility. This raises the interesting question of the impact of long-range magnetic order on plastic properties and dislocation dynamics. This proposal aims at a thorough investigation of the initial stages of plastic deformation in Heusler micropillars using a combination of microcompression and microLaue diffraction.