Remanent and transitory effects of elastic deformation of magnetite crystals

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Abstract
Single crystals of natural magnetite have been subjected to extended elastic deformation. The irreversible magnetic effects investigated were the acquisition of remanence and reduction of saturation remanence by compression in a null or directed magnetic field. The magnitude of the remanent moment is dependent on a complementary combination of the extent of deformation and magnitude of the field. The strain-induced moment is much larger than the isothermal remanence acquired in the deformation field, and has a significantly greater relative stability. The transitory effects of interest under the influence of applied stress were increase of saturation remanence and changes in microscopic coercivity spectrum. A structure-dependent model has been developed to interpret the behaviour. The magnetomechanical effects may be associated with the response of a multidomain configuration to changes induced in the internal mechanical microstructure. These changes are caused by the stress, and are attributed to the movement of mobile defects such as dislocations.