Magnetization processes in bistable amorphous ribbons with induced helical anisotropy

In this work we show the induction of bistability in amorphous ribbons with low magnetostriction (Metglas 2705M) using the exchange coupling in zones with a continuous varying anisotropy direction. It is shown that the magnetization processes under the action of a longitudinal magnetic field can be controlled by the non-uniform field produced by an alternating current, of the same frequency than the exciting field, flowing through the sample. Hysteresis loops with very different coercive fields have been obtained by varying the amplitude of the current intensity through the sample. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.