The magnetocaloric effect : the role of magnetic anisotropy

In a ferromagnet, the magnetic entropy change induced by the application of a magnetic field is greatest in the temperature regime near the Curie point. In the paramagnetic temperature regime, the magnitude of the magnetocaloric effect is expected to rise monotonically with the size of the individual moments that make up the material. The magnetic properties of such materials are relevant to devices employing magnetic refrigeration. One aspect of the problem, namely the impact of uniaxial magnetic anisotropy on the magnetocaloric effect, is explored. The results of Monte Carlo simulations for classical Heisenberg ferromagnets on a fcc lattice with anisotropy are presented.