Measurement of dynamic magnetization induced by a pulsed field: Proposal for a new rock magnetism method
This study proposes a new method for measuring transient magnetization of natural samples induced by a pulsed field with duration of 11 ms using a pulse magnetizer. An experimental system was constructed, consisting of a pair of differential sensing coils connected with a high-speed digital oscilloscope for data acquisition. The data were transferred to a computer to obtain an initial magnetization curve and a descending branch of a hysteresis loop in a rapidly changing positive field. This system was tested with synthetic samples (permalloy ribbon, aluminum plate, and nickel powder) as well as two volcanic rock samples. Results from the synthetic samples showed considerable differences from those measured by a quasi-static method using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). These differences were principally due to the time-dependent magnetic properties or to electromagnetic effects, such as magnetic viscosity, eddy current loss, or magnetic relaxation. Results from the natural samples showed that the transient magnetization–field curves were largely comparable to the corresponding portions of the hysteresis loops. However, the relative magnetization (scaled to the saturation magnetization) at the end of a pulse was greater than that measured by a VSM. This discrepancy, together with the occurrence of rapid exponential decay after a pulse, indicates magnetic relaxations that could be interpreted in terms of domain wall displacement. These results suggest that with further developments, the proposed technique can become a useful tool for characterizing magnetic particles contained in a variety of natural materials.
90° domain wall relaxation and frequency dependence of the coercive field in the ferroelectric switching process
The mechanisms involved in the polarization switching process in soft and hard Pb(Zr53,Ti47)O3 (PZT) bulk ceramics were investigated through the dependency of the hysteresis loop on the frequency. In order to determine the influence of the defects on the domain switching dynamics, the samples were characterized in the virgin state and after a fatigue or a depinning process. The frequency dependence of the polarization revealed a strong relaxation of the 90° domain walls at ∼100 Hz. The results also revealed a strong influence of the kind of defect and their distribution in the ferroelectric matrix on the domain switching dynamics, which were reflected in the frequency dependence of the coercive field and the percentage of the backswitching. Initially, it was observed that the frequency dependence of the coercive field for the soft and the hard PZT in the virgin state had just one rate of change per decade in the entire frequency range investigated, which is the standard behavior found in the literature. H...
Effect of composition and temperature on electric fatigue of La‐doped lead zirconate titanate ceramics
Composition and temperature of ferroelectric La‐doped lead zirconate titanate ceramics influence its electric fatigue behavior, defined as the degradation of the electrical properties under the action of an ac field applied for a long time. Compositions of rhombohedral symmetry exhibit little or no fatigue compared with those of tetragonal and orthorhombic symmetry. At temperatures higher than the dielectric maximum, no fatigue effect was detected. Compositions close to phase boundaries (FE‐AFE, FE‐FE, or FE‐PE) display significant fatigue behavior. Electric fatigue arises from the pinning of domains by space charges or injected carriers or from microcracking. The former (which are charge related) is accompanied by smaller strains and is recoverable by thermal and electrical treatment, while the latter (arising from microcracking) arises from large incompatible stresses between grains and is a permanent damage. The understanding of the mechanism of electric fatigue gained in the present study provides gui...