Kinetics of heat flux avalanches at the first order transition in La(Fe-Mn-Si)13-H1.65 compounds

Abstract

We study heat flux avalanches occurring at the first order transition in La(Fe-Mn- Si)13-H1.65 magnetocaloric material. As the transition is associated to the phase boundaries motion that gives rise to the latent heat, we develop a non equilibrium thermodynamic model. By comparing the model with experimental calorimetry data available for Mn=0.18, we find the values of the intrinsic kinetic parameter RL , expressing the damping for the moving boundary interface, at different magnetic fields. We conclude that by increasing field, thus approaching the critical point, the avalanches increase in number and their kinetics is slowed down.