Blocking of logarithmic temporal relaxation of magnetic remanence by piezomagnetically induced domains in Fe_1-xZn_xF₂

Authors

J. Kushauer, Angewandte Physik, University of Duisburg, Germany
Christian Binek, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Wolfgang Kleemann, Angewandte Physik, University of Duisburg, GermanyFollow

Date of this Version

5-15-1994

Comments

Published by American Institute of Physics. Copyright 1994. Permission to use. J. Appl. Phys. 75, 5856 (1994). http://www.jap.aip.org.

Abstract

Faraday rotation and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry were used to investigate the relaxation of the weak-field induced remanence, µ, of the random-field Ising model system Fe_1-xZn_xF₂. The stretched logarithmic decay law, as predicted by Nattermann and Vilfan for the case of compact domains with fractal surfaces, was confirmed for freezing fields of 3≤B≤5 T. Virtually constant remanence, µ, was found at low fields, 0.0002≤B≤1.5 T. This ferrimagnetic moment is due to the piezomagnetic effect acting on random-stress induced immobile domains. Chemical etching, which removes surface stress originating from the sample preparation, proves to decrease the remanence by about 50%, part of which is restored after renewed optical polishing. Journal of Applied Physics is copyrighted by The American Institute of Physics.