Revealing defect-induced spin disorder in nanocrystalline Ni

Bersweiler, M.*; Sinaga, E. P.*; Peral, I.*; 足立 望*; Bender, P.*; Steinke, N.-J.*; Gilbert, E. P.*; 戸高 義一*; 大場 洋次郎; Michels, A.*

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Magnetic properties of nanocrystalline nickel prepared via high-pressure torsion straining was investigated using magnetometry and magnetic small-angle neutron scattering to study the influence of the microstructure on magnetism. The magnetometry shows a significant increase of the coercivity compared to nondeformed polycrystalline nickel. The neutron data detect a nanoscale spin misalignment caused by the high density of crystal defects created by severe plastic deformation during the sample preparation. These results indicate that magnetic anisotropy is enhanced around the crystal defects.