Magnetization reversal process in bistable microwires and its temperature dependence

The temperature dependence of the magnetic behaviour of Fe-based glass-coated amorphous microwires with positive magnetostriction has been studied in the temperature range from 5 to 300 K. For long enough microwires, hysteresis loops are squared shaped in the whole temperature range denoting the existence of a large domain with axial easy axis. For short microwires, magnetic bistability is partially lost near room temperature but may be recovered at low temperature. This is interpreted considering the influence of the shape anisotropy: in short wires the demagnetizing field may become large enough to destroy the single domain structure. The influence of coating is also considered by studying microwires with different coating thickness. Transverse magnetoelastic anisotropy up to around 400 MPa can be induced at low temperature as a consequence of the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between metallic nucleus and insulating coat. Additional changes in the low-temperature loops have been identified to be a consequence of the way how the microwires are fixed to the sample's holder. Under particular circumstances transverse anisotropy induced at low temperature may destroy the bistable behavior.