Magnetic domain structures of single-crystalline Ni48Mn31Ga21 prism with {1
00} faces was studied using scanning electron microscopy and by Bitter tech
nique. The sample faces parallel to magnetizing direction contain more or l
ess a stripe domain structure with 180(-) walls. On the face perpendicular
to magnetizing direction, the labyrinth domain structure is established due
to out of plane magnetization under strong uniaxial anisotropy. Residual m
artensitic bands on the same sample face. however, owing to different cryst
al orientation, contain stripe domains. Magnetization curves of the prism e
xhibit an abrupt magnetization change and a transient hysteresis in the fir
st quadrant. The abrupt magnetization change is due to field-induced rearra
ngement of martensitic twin variants preceded by magnetization rotation. (C
) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.