Theoretical prediction and experimental study of a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy:Ga2MnNi

We predict the existence of a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy ${\text{Ga}}_2\text{MnNi}$ using density-functional theory. The martensitic start temperature $\left(T_M\right)$ is found to be approximately proportional to the stabilization energy of the martensitic phase $\left(\delta E_{\text{tot}}\right)$ for different shape memory alloys. Experimental studies performed to verify the theoretical results show that ${\text{Ga}}_2\text{MnNi}$ is ferromagnetic at room temperature and $T_M$ and $T_C$ are 780 and 330 K, respectively. Both from theory and experiment, the martensitic transition is found to be volume conserving that is indicative of shape memory behavior.