Dynamics of magnetic single domain particles embedded in a viscous liquid

Abstract

Kinetic equations for magnetic nano particles dispersed in a viscous liquid are developed and analyzed numerically. Depending on the amplitude of an applied oscillatory magnetic field, the particles orient their time averaged anisotropy axis perpendicular to the applied field for low magnetic field amplitudes and nearly parallel to the direction of the field for high amplitudes. The transition between these regions takes place in a narrow field interval. In the low field region, the magnetic moment is locked to some crystal axis and the energy absorption in an oscillatory driving field is dominated by viscous losses associated with particle rotation in the liquid. In the opposite limit, the magnetic moment rotates within the particle while its easy axis being nearly parallel to the external field direction oscillates. The kinetic equations are generalized to include thermal fluctuations. This leads to a significant increase of the power absorption in the low and intermediate field regions with a pronounced absorption peak as function of particle size. In the high field region, on the other hand, the inclusion of thermal fluctuations reduces the power absorption. The illustrative numerical calculations presented are performed for magnetic parameters typical for iron oxide.