Micromagnetism and microstructure of amorphous alloys (invited)

Abstract

In amorphous ferromagnetic alloys the characteristic properties of magnetization processes and of the hysteresis loop are sensitively influenced by fluctuations of material properties and defect structures. A detailed analysis of experimental results on the basis of the theory of micromagnetism for inhomogeneous systems shows clearly that the ferromagnetic phase transition is mainly influenced by intrinsic exchange fluctuations whereas the characteristic properties of the magnetization curve are governed predominantely by defect structures. The defect structures are identified as agglomerates of the free volume which are formed during the rapid quenching process.