Modification of structural and magnetic properties of soft magnetic multi-component metallic glass by 80 MeV 16O6+ ion irradiation

Effect of 80 MeV 16O6+ ion irradiation in amorphous Fe77P8Si3C5Al2Ga1B4 alloy is reported. Electronic energy loss induced modifications in the structural and, magnetic properties were monitored by synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD), Mössbauer and, magnetic measurements. Broad amorphous hump seen in SXRD patterns reveals the amorphous nature of the studied specimens. Mössbauer measurements suggest that: (a) alignment of atomic spins within ribbon plane, (b) changes in average hyperfine field suggests radiation-induced decrease in the inter atomic distance around Mössbauer (Fe) atom, (c) hyperfine field distribution confirms the presence of non-magnetic elements (e.g. – B, P, C) in the first near-neighbor shell of the Fe atom, thus reducing its magnetic moment, and (d) changes in isomer shift suggests variation in average number of the metalloid near neighbors and their distances. Minor changes in soft magnetic behavior – watt loss and, coercivity after an irradiation dose of 2 × 1013 ions/cm2 suggests prospective application of Fe77P8Si3C5Al2Ga1B4 alloy as core material in accelerators (radio frequency cavities).