Giant spontaneous magnetization jumps in LaFe_(12)B_6

摘要

Unexpected giant metamagnetic transitions consisting of a succession of extremely sharp magnetization steps separated by plateaus are reported at low temperature in LaFe_(12)B_6. Under certain combinations of the external parameters (temperature and magnetic field), the time dependence of the magnetization displays an unusual step-like feature. It is demonstrated that this giant spontaneous jump in magnetization takes place after a silent time and shows a striking resemblance with the phenomenon of an "incubation time" found in martensitic-like transformations.