Magnetocaloric effect study of polycrystalline Y0.5Ca0.5MnO3 compound: Investigation of the low temperature magnetic state

In this study, the investigation of the low temperature magnetic state of the polycrystalline Y0.5Ca0.5MnO3 compound is presented through the magnetic and magnetocaloric effect. As predicted earlier, in the absence of the no long range magnetic ordering in this compound, however a pounced peak in magnetocaloric effect was found at T ∼ 50 K. Magnetic properties also reveals such behavior at the low temperature regime. The numerical values of the magnetization is far below to the theoretical estimated values (considering ferromagnetic ordering of Mn spins) up to 70 kOe external magnetic field at the low temperature region (T = 2 K). Astonishingly, the bifurcation between the zero field cooled and field cooled magnetization is present in magnetization as a function of temperature data measured at high values of the magnetic field (H = 70 kOe). The overall responses of the compound indicate glassy nature at the low temperature region (T < 100 K) which is predominant below T ∼ 50 K and manifested as a pronounced peak in magnetocaloric effect.