Effects of torsion stress on the domain wall unpinning AC field in amorphous FeCoBSi wires

The unpinning or propagation field, h_p, where domain walls are unpinned and start their displacement under the AC magnetic field of as-cast amorphous wires of nominal composition (Co₉₄Fe₆)_72.5B₁₅Si_12.5, was determined for each torsion angle between –90° (counterclockwise) and +150° (clockwise) at a constant frequency of 1 kHz. A plot of h_p as a function of torsion angle showed a sharp minimum at a torsion angle of +120. The results are interpreted in terms of the counterbalance effect of the torsion against the intrinsic helical anisotropy induced during the wire fabrication.