Effect of Rapid Solidification on Short-Range Order: A Magnetic Study.
Abstract : In this study of the effects of rapid solidification on short-range order and magnetic properties, major progress and significant results were achieved in four specific areas. 1) Short-range order in Co80NbxB20-x amorphous alloys was found to be similar at low x and dissimilar at large x to that of the equilibrium crystal structure. This key observation led to a broader model of magnetic properties in amorphous alloys. 2) Devitrification of two different metallic glasses led to technically and scientifically important discoveries related to the fine microstructures produces. 3) Theoretical cluster calculations of electronic structure significantly advanced our understanding of bonding and magnetism in amorphous alloys. Finally, 4), We found that magnetization reversal could be very well described by the soliton-like solutions to a realistic non-linear wave equation. This approach correctly describes the coupling of the wall motion to its own local strain field, a technically important effect.