Magnetization reversal in amorphous ribbons studied by neutron depolarization

The magnetization process in an amorphous ribbon with an easy axis perpendicular to its plane has been studied with the three-dimensional neutron depolarization technique. A simplified model of three layers is used, describing the magnetization distribution in the bulk and the two closure domain structures at the surface. Our analysis with this model gives direct experimental evidence that the magnetization process due to an applied magnetic field in the ribbon plane is dominantly accounted for by rotation processes of the local magnetization in the bulk. The influence of different types of closure domain structures on the magnetization distribution during the reversal process are discussed and compared with the experimental results.