A variational approach to the emergence of domain structures in magnetostrictive solids

We consider a frame-indifferent variational model for magnetoelastic solids in the large-strain setting with the magnetization field defined on the unknown deformed configuration. Through a simultaneous linearization of the deformation and sharp-interface limit of the magnetization with respect to the easy axes, performed in terms of Γ-convergence, we identify a variational model describing the formation of domain structures and accounting for magnetostriction in the small-strain setting. Our analysis incorporates the effect of magnetic fields and, for uniaxial materials, ensures the regularity of minimizers of the effective energy.