Temperature Dependent Elasticity of a Ni sub(2)MnGa Film as Measured by Impulsive Stimulated Scattering

We report the results of an impulsive stimulated scattering measurement conducted on a 550 mn film of Ni sub(2)MnGa on a MgO substrate, aiming at the direct experimental observation of the highly temperature dependent elasticity. The phase velocity of the surface acoustic waves excited on the surface of the coating-substrate shows an anomaly around the phase transition temperature of Ni sub(2)MnGa, showing that it is possible to use impulsive stimulated scattering as a characterization tool to detennine temperature dependent elasticity of a thin film.