Modeling of the magnetomechanical effect: Application of the Rayleigh law to the stress domain

Stress is one of the principal external factors affecting the magnetization of materials. The magnetomechanical effect, that is, the change of magnetization of a magnetic material resulting from the application of stress, has attracted attention because of its scientific complexity. An improved model equation for interpreting the magnetomechanical effect has been developed based on extension of the previous equation to include the Rayleigh law. According to the previous theory of the magnetomechanical effect, which is based on the "law of approach," application of stress induces changes in magnetization toward anhysteretic magnetization which itself is stress dependent, and the rate of change of magnetization with the input elastic energy is dependent on the displacement of the prevailing magnetization from the anhysteretic magnetization. The theory has been refined by including a linear term in the model equation in addition to the well-known quadratic term. It was found that the modified theory provides a much better description of the magnetization changes under stress, particularly at small applied stress amplitudes and when the stress changes sign. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.