The Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy Constants of Iron and Iron-silicon Alloys

Abstract

The magnetocrystalline anisotropy constants k1, k2 and k3 of iron and of alloys of 1.75, 2.46, 3.56 and 4.59 weight per cent silicon in iron have been measured in the temperature range 4.2-295 K. The measurements have been performed on spherical samples. The field dependence of the anisotropy constants Kn (n = 1,2,...) determined from torque curves is described byKn = kn - μ0MnHi,M, n = 1, 2 .... where Mn are the direction dependent parts of the magnetization, and Hi,M is the component of the field inside the sample along the direction of magnetization. The magnetocrystalline anisotropy constants kn are obtained by extrapolation to zero internal field. The anisotropy of magnetization is reported with values of M1 and M2.