Giant rotating magnetocaloric effect at low magnetic fields in multiferroic TbMn2O5 single crystals

In conventional magnetocaloric refrigeration systems, the magnetocaloric effect is exploited by moving the active material in and out of the magnetic field source. Here, we demonstrate that a large and reversible magnetocaloric effect (-Delta S-R,S-max = 6.4 J/kg K and Delta(R, max) = 8K under 2 T) can be generated simply by rotating the multiferroic TbMn2O5 single crystal around its b axis in a relatively low constant magnetic field applied in the ac plane. Our results should inspire and open ways toward the implementation of compact, efficient and embedded magnetocaloric devices for low temperature and space applications. (C) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.