Dependence of the magnetization and remanence of single-domain particles on the second cubic anisotropy constant

Magnetization and remanent magnetization curves for noninteracting single-domain particles with cubic magnetocrystalline anisotropy have been calculated, taking into account the first two anisotropy constants. The dependencies of the saturation remanence, coercivity, remanence coercivity, and deltaM plots on the anisotropy constants ratio have been discussed. It has been found that the calculated saturation remanence shows maxima in the vicinity of the spin-reorientation transition points for both negative and positive first cubic anisotropy constants. The remanent magnetization for the case when the face diagonals < 110 > are the easiest magnetization orientations has been analytically determined as well. It has been shown that when more than one type of easiest directions coexist, the remanence of the system can only be obtained numerically because of the history dependence of the remanent magnetization for some particles' configurations. The predicted remanence behavior for systems representing spin-reorientation has been compared with that of a Tb0.6Ho0.4Fe2 powder sample, and an excellent agreement between numerical and experimental data has been found. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.