Critical magnetization at antiphase boundaries of magnetic binary alloys.

Abstract

We analyze the critical behavior of the magnetization at antiphase boundaries (APB's) of magnetic alloys. For an Ising-like model alloy in the mean-field approximation the symmetry-breaking APB's induce, within a certain range of bulk compositions, local magnetic order above the Curie temperature. This purely interfacial critical behavior explains the self-reversal thermoremanent magnetism of the ilmenite (${\mathrm{FeTiO}}_{2}$) haematite (${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$) solid-solution series (${\mathrm{Ilm}}_{\mathrm{x}}$${\mathrm{Hem}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$).