The study of the magnetic properties of matter in strong magnetic fields. Part III.—Magnetostriction

Abstract

Magnetostriction may be defined in general as the change of shape of a substance when it is magnetised. The phenomenon may originate from various causes, but there is one which appears to us to be of major importance. From our present conceptions of the origin of cohesion between the atoms forming a crystal lattice it appears that a considerable part of this cohesion is due to forces of electrodynamical origin; we may therefore expect to influence these forces by means of a magnetic field, and thus produce a change of shape of the body. In ferromagnetic substances magnetostriction is easily observed in ordinary magnetic fields and a number of theoretical investigations have been carried out to explain the general aspects of the phenomenon. With para- and diamagnetic substances, however, no magnetostriction has been observed.