Stress-induced magnetic easy axis in amorphous Fe40Ni40P14B6

In a ribbon of amorphous Fe₄₀Ni₄₀P₁₄B₆ (Metglas 2826) the iron spins tend to be parallel to the plane of the ribbon, but the distribution of spin directions within the plane is nearly random. When a uniaxial tensile stress is applied to the ribbon the spins become almost completely aligned parallel to the applied stress. The technique of Mössbauer polarimetry was used to detect and measure this effect.