The magnetic ground state of the Heusler compound Mn${}_2$CoSn was predicted to be nearly half-metallic ferrimagnetic with a high spin polarization by ab initio electronic structure calculations. Mn${}_2$CoSn was synthesized, and the magnetic behavior of the compound was studied using a superconducting quantum interference device and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. The experimental values were found to be in fair accordance with the theoretical predictions. The electronic structure and the crystal structure of Mn${}_2$CoSn were characterized comprehensively using x-ray powder diffraction, ${}^{119}\mathrm{Sn}$ Mössbauer spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

• Received 22 February 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.83.174448