  The magnetic and thermodynamic properties of a Ni2.19Mn0.81Ga alloy with
coupled magnetic and structural (martensitic) phase transitions were studied
experimentally and theoretically. The magnetocaloric effect was measured by a
direct method in magnetic fields 0-26 kOe at temperatures close to the
magnetostructural transition temperature. For theoretical description of the
alloy properties near the magnetostructural transition a statistical model is
suggested, that takes into account the coexistence of martensite and austenite
domains in the vicinity of martensite transformation point.
