Magnetic domain structure and domain-wall energy in UFe/sub 8/Ni/sub 2/Si/sub 2/ and UFe/sub 6/Ni/sub 4/Si/sub 2/ intermetallic compounds

Magnetic domain structures in the UFe/sub 8/Ni/sub 2/Si/sub 2/ and UFe/sub 6/Ni/sub 4/Si/sub 2/ compounds were studied using the powder pattern method. The domain structure observed is typical for uniaxial materials. The domain-wall energy density /spl gamma/ was determined from the average surface domain width D/sub s/ observed on surfaces perpendicular to the easy axis as equal to 16 erg/cm/sup 2/ for UFe/sub 8/Ni/sub 2/Si/sub 2/ and 10 erg/cm/sup 2/ for UFe/sub 6/Ni/sub 4/Si/sub 2/. Moreover, the critical diameter for single domain particle D/sub c/ was calculated for the studied compounds.<
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