Magnetic anisotropy and large low field rotating magnetocaloric effect in NdGa single crystal

The magnetic properties, magnetocaloric effect (MCE) and rotating magnetocaloric effect (RMCE) in NdGa single crystal were investigated. NdGa single crystal exhibits large magnetic anisotropy and a large MCE for magnetic field along c axis at TC (Curie temperature) of 42 K with the maximum magnetic entropy change (-ΔSMmax) of 21.1 J/kg K (magnetic field change of 0-7 T). The rotating entropy change from the easy axis (c axis) to hard axis (b axis) (ΔSR,cb) or NdGa single crystal reaches 16.6 J/kg K for the magnetic field of 7 T. Particularly, the value of ΔSR,cb is as high as 10.1 J/kg K in a relative low magnetic field of 2 T. The large MCE and RMCE, especially under low magnetic field, indicated that the NdGa single crystal could be a promising candidate for practical magnetic refrigeration.