The surface impedance tensor sigma is found for 120 mu m diameter Co-based
amorphous wires as a function of a dc axial magnetic field H-ex. Contrary t
o the usual practice of giant magneto-impedance experiments, the voltage re
sponse is measured not only across the wire but also in the external coil (
secondary coil), and the wire is subjected to an ac current flowing through
it or the coil (primary coil), which allows all the components of the impe
dance tensor sigma(zz), sigma(Phi Phi) and sigma(z Phi)=sigma(Phi z) to be
determined. Under certain conditions, they all are very sensitive to H-ex (
especially sigma(Phi Phi): 100-250%/Oe) but exhibit a different field behav
ior: the diagonal terms sigma(zz) and sigma(Phi Phi) are symmetrical with r
espect to H-ex whereas the off-diagonal terms sigma(z Phi)=sigma(Phi z) are
antisymmetrical, and at high frequencies, sigma(zz) has a minimum at H-ex=
0 where sigma(Phi Phi) has a maximum. The effect of a moderate dc bias curr
ent I-b is demonstrated to be favored for sigma(z Phi) and sigma(Phi z), wh
ich are nearly zero for I-b=0. These new magneto-impedance characteristics
may further expand the application opportunities for the GMI effect. <(C)>
2000 American Institute of Physics.