Magnetization and Interactions of Single Domain Sm2Co17 Particles Embedded in CaO Matrix

Abstract

ABSTRACTInvestigation of the interactions in two magnetic composite systems composed of ∼8 vol% isolated Sm2Co17 nanoparticles of different size ranges in a CaO matrix has been made by comparing the isothermal remanent magnetization curves (IRM) with the dc demagnetization curves (DCD) using Wohlfarth remanence relation. The presence of a weak demagnetizing field was evidenced in the sample with smaller magnetic particles (7-90nm), indicating the magnetostatic interaction between the magnetic particles was dominant in this sample. The large positive deviation from Wolhfarth relation in the sample with larger particles (10-250nm) suggests the presence of multigrain particles in which neighboring grains interact strongly with each other. The hysteresis curves of the two composite systems were measured at temperatures between 5 and 350K. A nearly linear temperature dependence of the coercivity was observed in both samples up to 350 K. From these results it is shown that although the sizes of the Sm2Co17 particles are well below the critical size for single domain particle, there is no evidence that the magnetization reversals in these particles are coherent rotation.