Magnetocaloric effect. Physics and applications

The principles of magnetic cooling and the magnetocaloric properties of various magnetic compounds have been presented with a special focus on materials with giant and colossal magnetocaloric parameters. The magnetocaloric properties of manganites and cobaltites have been considered. The maximum entropy change in polycrystalline La0,7Ca0,3MnO3 for the field of 2 T reaches 8 J kg-1 K-1, exceeding that of gadolinium. It is suggested that the manganites with superior magnetocaloric properties and low material costs are attractive magnetic refrigerator materials for technical applications.