Spatially nonuniform distribution of magnetization in laser-irradiated ferromagentic materials

Ferromagnetic austenite–martensite steels are laser-irradiated to obtain spatially nonuniform distribution of magnetization. An original setup that employs the Faraday effect in epitaxial ferrite-garnet films is used to visualize and measure the spatial distribution of magnetization in steels that are processed with the aid of a fiber laser at different scanning rates. It is demonstrated that rapid laser heating of samples causes modification of the microstructure from the martensite state to the austenite state that provides paramagnetic properties.