Domain structure of local current annealed amorphous ribbons

Positive and negative magnetostrictive amorphous ribbons have been locally current annealed under local stress to induce different anisotropies, which have been studied by observing the magnetic domains. In samples annealed under low applied stresses, the origin of the induced anisotropy is the internal mechanical stresses produced during the thermal treatment, due to the change in volume of the annealed zones. In samples annealed under high stresses, the main origin of the induced anisotropy is the stresses produced by plastic deformations. After current annealing, local changes in the magnetostriction constant have been found in Co-based amorphous ribbons with low magnetostriction constant.