The magneto-caloric effect (MCE), which is the refrigeration based on the variation of the magnetic entropy, is of great interest in both technological applications and fundamental research. The MCE is quantified by the magnetic Gruneisen parameter $Gamma_{textmd{mag}}$. We report on an analysis of $Gamma_{textmd{mag}}$ for the classical Brillouin-like paramagnet, for a modified Brillouin function taking into account a zero-field splitting originated from the spin-orbit (SO) interaction and for the one-dimensional Ising (1DI) model under longitudinal field. For both Brillouin-like model with SO interaction and the longitudinal 1DI model, for $ T rightarrow$ 0 and vanishing field a sign change of the MCE is observed, suggestive of a quantum phase transition. SO interaction leads to a narrowing of the critical fluctuations upon approaching the critical point. Our findings emphasize the relevance of $Gamma_{textmd{mag}}$ for exploring critical points. Also, we show that the Brillouin model with and without SO interaction can be recovered from the 1DI model in the regime of high-temperatures and vanishing coupling constant $J$.
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