Stress- and magnetic-field-induced variant rearrangement in Ni–Mn–Ga single crystals with seven-layered martensitic structure

Ni–Mn–Ga alloys with different chemical compositions having cubic-7M martensitic transformation were studied. Despite of composition difference, low de-twinning stress (approximately 1–2 MPa) and magnetic-field-induced strain (MFIS) of approximately 10% at ambient temperature in a magnetic field order of 1 T were observed in 7M martensitic phase. The influence of magnetic field on stress–strain curves and temperature dependencies of de-twinning stress are also presented.