Unoccupied electronic structure of Ni2MnGa ferromagnetic shape memory alloy

Momentum resolved inverse photoemission spectroscopy measurements show that the dispersion of the unoccupied bands of Ni2MnGa is significant in the austenite phase. In the martensite phase, it is markedly reduced, which is possibly related to the structural transition to an incommensurate modulated state in the martensite phase. Based on the first principle calculations of the electronic structure of Ni–Mn–Ga, we show that the modification of the spectral shape with surface composition is related to change in the hybridization between the Mn 3d and Ni 3d-like states that dominate the unoccupied conduction band. •Band dispersion of unoccupied states is significant in the austenite phase.•A weaker dispersion in martensite phase is due to an incommensurate modulated structure.•The spectral shape is modified due to change in surface composition.