Magnetic Interactions in Wiegand Wires Evaluated by First-Order Reversal Curves

Wiegand wires exhibit a unique fast magnetization reversal feature in the soft layer that is accompanied by a large Barkhausen jump, which is also known as the Wiegand effect. However, the magnetic structure and interaction in Wiegand wires cannot be evaluated by conventional magnetization hysteresis curves. We analyzed the magnetic properties of Wiegand wires at various lengths by measuring the first-order reversal curves (FORCs) and by evaluating the FORC diagram from a series of FORCs. In particular, we used a FeCoV Wiegand wire with a magnetic soft outer layer, an intermediate layer, and a hard core. The magnetization of the various layers in the wire could be identified from the FORC diagrams. Furthermore, based on the interaction between multiple layers, the positive and negative polarity of the FORC distribution was clarified.