Direct measurement of magnetostriction of rapidly quenched thin ribbons

A special device for direct measurement of magnetostrictions lambda(parallel to) and lambda(perpendicular to) has been constructed. The sensitivity of this apparatus for lambda(parallel to) and lambda(perpendicular to) determination is 10(-8); the set-up ensures identical demagnetization factor for both measurements. The method and set-up is especially suitable for thin flat samples, such as alloys produced by rapid quenching. From the dependences lambda(parallel to)(H) and lambda(parallel to)(H), the saturation magnetostriction lambda(S), volume magnetostriction omega and force magnetostriction partial derivative omega/partial derivative H are determined as function of external field H. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.