Magnetization reversal in Nd-Fe-B based nanocomposites as seen by magnetic small-angle neutron scattering

Abstract

We have studied the magnetization-reversal process of a Nd2Fe14B/Fe3B nanocomposite using small-angle neutron scattering. Based on the computation of the autocorrelation function of the spin misalignment, we have estimated the characteristic size l(C) of spin inhomogeneities around the Nd2Fe14B nanoparticles. The quantity l(C) approaches a constant value of about 12.5 nm (similar to average Nd2Fe14B particle radius) at 14 T and takes on a maximum value of about 18.5 nm at the coercive field of -0.55 T. The field dependence of l(C) can be described by a model that takes into account the convolution relationship between the nuclear and the magnetic microstructure. © 2013, American Institute of Physics