The magnetic field-induced martensitic transformation in an Fe-31.7 at%Ni alloy has been studied by means of magnetic measurements and optical and electron microscopies, pulsed magnetic field being applied at the Ultra High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Osaka University. As a result, it is shown that there exists a critical strength of magnetic field to induce the martensitic transformation at a given temperature above M
s. The critical strength increases with increasing temperature difference from M
s, Δ
T, and those plotted as a function of Δ
T lie on two straight lines bent at a temperature of Δ
T=22 K. However, the martensitic transformation does not start in the time when the magnetic field has reached the critical strength, but is delayed. The delay time is dependent on Δ
T alone and on both Δ
T and
H in the temperature ranges above and below Δ
T=22 K, respectively. The amount of the magnetic field-induced martensites is almost constant without regard to the maximum strength of applied magnetic field, if Δ
T is kept constant, but it increases with decreasing Δ
T. Optical and electron microscopy observations show that the morphology of magnetic field-induced martensites is the same as that of thermally induced ones by cooling below M
s, irrespective of Δ
T and
H, being lenticular and internally twinned. It is suggested from a consideration based on the results that the raise of transformation temperature is not caused by Zeeman effect alone.
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