Giant magnetostriction in Tb-doped Fe83Ga17 melt-spun ribbons

Giant magnetostriction is achieved in lightly Tb-doped Fe83Ga17 melt-spun ribbons. The average perpendicular magnetostriction lambda(perpendicular to) is -886 ppm along the melt-spun ribbon direction in the Fe82.89Ga16.88Tb0.23 alloy and the calculated parallel magnetostriction lambda(parallel to) is 1772 ppm. These values are more than four times as large as those found in binary Fe83Ga17. The enhanced magnetostriction is attributed to a small amount of Tb entering solution in the A2 matrix phase during rapid solidification. The strong localized magnetocrystalline anisotropy of terbium is thought to cause the giant magnetostriction. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.