Magnetostriction studies in an antiferromagnetic polycrystalline Mn42Fe58 alloy

Magnetostriction “jump” effect often occurs in ferromagnetic materials. However, in this letter, the jump effect is observed in antiferromagnetic face-centered-cubic austenitic polycrystalline Mn42Fe58 alloy at room temperature. The magnetostriction under an applied field of 1.0T is 169ppm parallel to the field. The jump magnetostriction of −581ppm, which is antiparallel to the field, is obtained when the sample is subjected to the compressive stress of 1.52MPa. The relation between the magnetostriction and the field strength is discussed.