Reversibility and annealing of magnetic after-effect in ferromagnetic amorphous alloys

Magnetic after-effect (MAE) measurements of the initial susceptibility χ0 are performed in Co58Ni10Fe5Si11B16 nearly non magnetostrictive metallic glass. The long time MAE is measured in two different amorphous states: a) as-quenched and b) pre-treated (at 623 K for 90 min). The results are analysed within the framework of the two-level-one-configuration model. The reversible structural relaxation is described by a distribution of activation enthalpies. The annealing of the as-quenched system can be described as well by a spectrum of activation enthalpies corresponding to the irreversible stabilization of the alloy. The irreversible annealing processes and the reversible relaxation processes during the structural relaxation in metallic glasses are studied simultaneously. (author)