Effects of magnetostatic interaction on domain microstructure evolution in magnetic shape memory alloys: Phase field simulation

Abstract

Domain microstructure evolution during magnetic field-induced twin boundary motion in magnetic shape memory alloys was investigated using phase field micromagnetic microelastic modeling. The computer simulations show bending and splitting of magnetic domain walls, magnetization rotation due to external and internal magnetic fields and pinning of magnetic domain wall motion at twin boundaries. The study reveals the important roles of magnetostatic interaction in the domain processes, providing insights into the complex domain phenomena in magnetic shape memory alloys and explaining experimentally observed domain microstructures.

Keywords:

• phase field modeling
• magnetic domain
• magnetostatic interaction
• magnetic shape memory alloy

Acknowledgements

Support from NSF under Grant No. DMR-0706354 is gratefully acknowledged. Parallel computer simulations were performed on Datastar at San Diego Supercomputer Center and Lonestar at Texas Advanced Computing Center.