Theory of the magnetomechanical effect

Abstract

This study investigated a model theory of the changes in magnetization that a ferromagnetic material undergoes when subjected to an applied uniaxial stress. The description of these effects is shown to be totally different from the description of the changes in the hysteresis curve under a series of constant applied stresses. The main mechanism in the proposed model theory is the unpinning of domain walls by the application of stress, which allows the walls to move and causes a change in the magnetization. This change in magnetization reduces the displacement from the anhysteretic magnetization. In addition, the anhysteretic magnetization itself is changed by the application of stress via the magnetoelastic coupling. It is shown that the effect can be described by an equation in which the rate of change of magnetization with elastic energy is proportional to the displacement of the magnetization from the anhysteretic magnetization. This is termed the 'law of approach'. This law seems to apply when the starting condition of the material is on a major hysteresis loop.