Neutron scattering and modeling of dipole-field-induced spin disorder in Nanoperm

We present magnetic-field-dependent small-angle neutron scattering data for the ferromagnetic nanocomposite Nanoperm (Fe89Zr7B3Cu1). The spin-misalignment scattering in the approach-to-saturation regime unexpectedly reveals pronounced lobes of high intensity at angles +/- 30-40 degrees relative to the magnetic-field axis. Based on numerical calculations, the four-fold angular symmetry of the scattering pattern can be explained in terms of local spin misalignment, which originates from dipolar stray fields due to the mismatch of the saturation-magnetization values between the bcc Fe particles and the amorphous magnetic matrix.