Magnetization Curves and Domain Structure

For the two main faces of a Néel-cut crystal of silicon iron a detailed study is made of the changes in domain patterns occurring when the crystal dimensions are changed. The contribution of closure domain systems to bulk magnetization along a [110] direction is treated experimentally and theoretically; the results explain differences between the ideal (Akulov) magnetization curve and curves obtained experimentally, and prove that a substantial hysteresis loss occurs in high fields with crystals of finite size.