Quasi-lifetime topography of magnetic domain movements in grain oriented (100) [001] FE–3 wt% Si polycrystals using white synchrotron radiation. II. The influence of small tensile stress

Abstract

The full potential of white synchrotron radiation (DESY, Hamburg) is employed in Laue transmission geometry to study magnetic domain movements in a grain orientated Fe–Si polycrystal influenced by small tensile stress. The topographs show that the domains are extremely sensitive to minute stresses, less than 2.3 N/mm2, applied along an easy [010]‐magnetization axis. Further increase replaces the inherent stripe domains with 90° closure domains, after which strain bands appear at 4.6 N/mm2. A reduction in stress partially reverses the process. Topographs taken of the crystal in a final free state show a disordered array of [001], [010], and [011] stripe domain islands. Topographs taken of the same area three months later show a metastable recovery to the initial domain pattern.