Sub-nanosecond structural dynamics of the martensitic transformation in Ni-Mn-Ga

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Ge, Yuru, Ganss, Fabian, Schmidt, Daniel, Hensel, Daniel, Bruckhoff, Mike J., Sadashivaiah, Sakshath, Neumann, Bruno, Brede, Mariana, Gruner, Markus E., Gaal, Peter, Lünser, Klara, Fähler, Sebastian
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Ge, Yuru
Ganss, Fabian
Schmidt, Daniel
Hensel, Daniel
Bruckhoff, Mike J.
Sadashivaiah, Sakshath
Neumann, Bruno
Brede, Mariana
Gruner, Markus E.
Gaal, Peter
Lünser, Klara
Fähler, Sebastian
author_facet Ge, Yuru
Ganss, Fabian
Schmidt, Daniel
Hensel, Daniel
Bruckhoff, Mike J.
Sadashivaiah, Sakshath
Neumann, Bruno
Brede, Mariana
Gruner, Markus E.
Gaal, Peter
Lünser, Klara
Fähler, Sebastian
contents Martensitic transformations drive a multitude of emerging applications, which range from high stroke actuation and, mechanocaloric refrigeration, to thermoelastic energy harvesting. All these applications benefit from faster transformations, as a high cycle frequency is essential for achieving high power density. However, systematic investigations of the fast dynamics and fundamental speed limits of martensitic transformations are scarce. Especially for ultrashort time transformations, the temperature evolution throughout the transformation is not measured, which is a substantial shortcoming as temperature is the intrinsic force driving the transformation. Here, we present a synchrotron-based time-resolved X-ray diffraction study of a 270 fs laser-induced martensitic transformation in a Ni-Mn-Ga-based epitaxial thin film. We observe the transformation from martensite to austenite within about 100 ps, just limited by the synchrotron probe pulse duration. Furthermore, a full transformation cycle from martensite to austenite and back to martensite can almost be finished within 5 ns, which is the fastest martensitic transformation reported so far. Measurements and calculations of the temperature evolution allow us to analyse the influence of temperature on transformation time. By time-resolved strain measurements we demonstrate that in addition to temperature, thermal film stress must be considered as a competing influence on the martensitic transformation. Our experimental findings are supported by molecular dynamics simulations with machine learned force fields adapted to density functional theory calculations. These reveal that the huge distortion during a martensitic transformation requires the collective movement of many atoms within the microstructure, which delays the transformation.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_06513
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Sub-nanosecond structural dynamics of the martensitic transformation in Ni-Mn-Ga
Ge, Yuru
Ganss, Fabian
Schmidt, Daniel
Hensel, Daniel
Bruckhoff, Mike J.
Sadashivaiah, Sakshath
Neumann, Bruno
Brede, Mariana
Gruner, Markus E.
Gaal, Peter
Lünser, Klara
Fähler, Sebastian
Materials Science
Martensitic transformations drive a multitude of emerging applications, which range from high stroke actuation and, mechanocaloric refrigeration, to thermoelastic energy harvesting. All these applications benefit from faster transformations, as a high cycle frequency is essential for achieving high power density. However, systematic investigations of the fast dynamics and fundamental speed limits of martensitic transformations are scarce. Especially for ultrashort time transformations, the temperature evolution throughout the transformation is not measured, which is a substantial shortcoming as temperature is the intrinsic force driving the transformation. Here, we present a synchrotron-based time-resolved X-ray diffraction study of a 270 fs laser-induced martensitic transformation in a Ni-Mn-Ga-based epitaxial thin film. We observe the transformation from martensite to austenite within about 100 ps, just limited by the synchrotron probe pulse duration. Furthermore, a full transformation cycle from martensite to austenite and back to martensite can almost be finished within 5 ns, which is the fastest martensitic transformation reported so far. Measurements and calculations of the temperature evolution allow us to analyse the influence of temperature on transformation time. By time-resolved strain measurements we demonstrate that in addition to temperature, thermal film stress must be considered as a competing influence on the martensitic transformation. Our experimental findings are supported by molecular dynamics simulations with machine learned force fields adapted to density functional theory calculations. These reveal that the huge distortion during a martensitic transformation requires the collective movement of many atoms within the microstructure, which delays the transformation.
title Sub-nanosecond structural dynamics of the martensitic transformation in Ni-Mn-Ga
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.06513