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Direct optical observation of ferromagnetic domains

Nature volume 303, pages 684–685 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

We report here the first direct optical observation in any material of ferromagnetic domains using the magnetostrictive effect. The domains were seen, using an optical microscope at near normal incidence, on the (110) surface of a crystal of terfenol (Tb0.27Dy0.73Fe2), which possesses a very large magnetostriction constant (λ111 = 1.6 × 10−3 at room temperature). Magnetostrictive distortions of adjacent domains in the specimen caused the surface to take up a rippled appearance. The application of a constant magnetic field of 3 × 10−2 T in the [11¯1] direction resulted in the growth of the domain pattern, and confirmed that the surface undulations were indeed due to ferromagnetic domains.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK

    D. Y. Parpia & B. K. Tanner

  2. Department of Pure and Applied Physics, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK

    D. G. Lord

Authors
  1. D. Y. Parpia
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  2. B. K. Tanner
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  3. D. G. Lord
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Parpia, D., Tanner, B. & Lord, D. Direct optical observation of ferromagnetic domains. Nature 303, 684–685 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/303684a0

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