Blocking of logarithmic temporal relaxation of magnetic remanence by piezomagnetically induced domains in Fe1−xZnxF2

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Abstract
Faraday rotation and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry were used to investigate the relaxation of the weak‐field induced remanence, μ, of the random‐field Ising model system Fe1−xZnxF2. The stretched logarithmic decay law, as predicted by Nattermann and Vilfan for the case of compact domains with fractal surfaces, was confirmed for freezing fields of 3≤B≤5 T. Virtually constant remanence, μ, was found at low fields, 0.0002≤B≤1.5 T. This ferrimagnetic moment is due to the piezomagnetic effect acting on random‐stress induced immobile domains. Chemical etching, which removes surface stress originating from the sample preparation, proves to decrease the remanence by about 50%, part of which is restored after renewed optical polishing.