Exploring the details of the martensite–austenite phase transition of the shape memory Heusler compound Mn2NiGa by hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, magnetic and transport measurements

Mn 2 NiGa is reported to be a shape memory material with a martensite–austenite phase transition. Temperature dependent measurements of the transport and magnetic properties reveal the martensitic transition close to room temperature with a thermal hysteresis of about 27 K. The electronic structure of the valence band in both phases was studied by hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results clearly indicate that strong changes in the electronic structure appear at the phase transition.