Changes In Magnetic Parameters Research Articles

Late Miocene tectonic forcing of climate transition in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau

Interactions among late Cenozoic global cooling, tectonic activity and regional climate evolution of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau remain elusive. To further understand the relative contributions of global climate change and tectonism, we conducted a comprehensive study of heavy minerals, rock magnetism, and branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs) in late Cenozoic sediments of the Laojunmiao section (ca. 12.7 Ma to 5 Ma) in the Jiuxi Basin. Our results reveal a notable increase in magnetic susceptibility (χ) and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) at 8.5 Ma, aligning with an accelerated decrease in temperature captured by brGDGTs. Combined with heavy mineral analysis, we propose that the profound changes in magnetic parameters and temperature are closely linked to the intensive uplift of the northern Qilian Shan since 8.5 Ma. Furthermore, this ongoing uplift has occurred simultaneously with persistent aridification in the Jiuxi Basin and its adjacent regions. The Qilian Shan might have reached a threshold elevation and began to act as a moisture barrier to northwestward moisture since 8.5 Ma. By synthesizing hydroclimate evolution records from the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, we deduce that changing topography resulting from tectonic uplift may have exerted a significant influence on regulating the moisture distribution in this region during the mid- to late Miocene.

Soil organic carbon induces a decrease in erodibility of black soil with loess parent materials in northeast China

Abstract Although black soil in northeast China undergoes severe erosion, the contribution of parent materials, mainly Quaternary loess and non-loess sediments, to soil erodibility remains unclear. Considering the inheritance of ferromagnetic materials by parent materials, changes in magnetic parameters can successfully determine soil erodibility on a regional scale with a close climatic background. Here, we analysed the magnetic indicators of 142 samples from the black soil horizon formed on loess and non-loess sediments, covering areas of severe and slight erosion in the region to determine the effects of parent materials on the erodibility of black soil in northeast China. Both low-frequency magnetic susceptibility and frequency magnetic susceptibility (χfd) were proportional to the decrease in erosion rate due to erosion-induced leaching of ferromagnetic materials, and the change in χfd was narrow for black soil with loess parent materials, corresponding to relatively low soil erodibility. Compared with loess, the addition of soil organic matter could stabilise soils against erosion, thereby inducing a decrease in the erodibility of black soil formed on loess. Additionally, sustainable soil management policies to protect black soil from further erosion are necessary and urgent under the pressure of maintaining high grain yields and preventing erosion in northeast China.

Double diffusion in a porous medium of MHD Maxwell fluid with thermal radiation, heat generation and chemical reaction

Here, we employ computational methods to study the impacts of heat production and radiation fascination on the movement of a chemically reactive flow of Maxwell fluid in a magnetic field via a vertically slanted permeable plate. A boundary layer approximation is carried out to construct a flow that accurately captures the time-independent equations for momentum, energy and concentration. Partial differential equations describe the path taken by the electrically conducting fluid as it moves through the porous media. The RK45 method is then used to assess the solutions once appropriate dimensionless variables have been applied. In addition, tables and graphs are used to clarify the physical contribution of important parameters like the Prandtl number (Pr), the Maxwell fluid parameter (β), the Lewis number (Le), the Rayleigh number (Ra), the magnetic parameter (M), the inclined plate (γ), the buoyancy ratio (Nr), the heat generation parameter (Q), the radiation parameter (Rd) and the chemical reaction parameter (Kr), the skin friction formulas and the Nusselt number are calculated, both used to quantify heat and mass transmission. Finally, a graphical representation of the change in magnetic parameters across a range of Rd embedded factor values is shown.

Bi3+ and V3+ co-substituted Ni-Co spinel ferrites: Synthesis, optical, magnetic characterization and hyperfine interaction

Ni0.5Co0.5VxBixFe2-2xO4 spinel ferrite nanoparticles with composition (x = 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08) (CoNiVBiFeO (x = 0.00–0.08) SFNPs) were well fabricated hydrothermally. The consequence of co-substitution of both Bi3+ and V3+ ions on structure, morphology, and magnetic features of Ni0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 SFNPs were studied using XRD (X-ray diffractometry), scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopies along with EDX, XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), VSM (vibrating sample magnetometry) and Mossbauer spectroscopic techniques. The pure spinel ferrite (SFs) phase was approved via XRD. The morphology of SFNPs were revealed by SEM and TEM. Hyperfine parameters are determined from fitting room temperature Mössbauer spectra. The V3+ and Bi3+ ions occupy mainly at B site. The isomer shift values are coupled with the characteristics of the high spin Fe3+ ion. The influence of V3+ and Bi3+ ions co-doping on the magnetic features of Ni-Co SFNPs has been also investigated at 300 and 10 K. The saturation magnetization (Ms), remanence (Mr), coercive field (Hc), and Bohr magneton number (nB) are extracted from the recorded M-H hysteresis loops. Nanomagnetic materials with x content of 0.02, 0.08, and 0.10 exhibited superparamagnetic (SPM) behavior, whereas other products with x content of 0.00, 0.04, and 0.06 displayed soft ferrimagnetic behavior at ambient temperature. The different prepared nanoferrites displayed hard ferrimagnetic characteristic at 10 K. The Ms and Mr values are decreased as result of V3+ and Bi3+ ions co-doping. However, Hc does not show a monotonic trend. The fluctuations in magnetic moments of ions, super-exchange coupling, and distribution of cations are correlated with the changes in magnetic parameters to explain their variations.

Stress influence to eddy current control of cracked aeronautical material

Eddy current testing is widely used for non-destructive evaluation of conductive materials where an induced current created by a variable magnetic field propagate on the material surface and sensed by a special sensor. The main purpose of this paper is to study the influence of the stress field near the crack tip especially in the singular and elaborated zones of aeronautical material aluminium 7075-T6 to eddy current non-destructive testing enhanced with a very particular type of probe to have better stresses sensitivity. This experimental part understands impedance variations due to the stress with high measurement reliability and shows that eddy current control is very sensitive to the stress and produces significant changes in magnetic parameters that mean stress should be considered in mechanical parts inspection.

Effect of Gd doping on magnetic and MCE properties of M-type barium hexaferrite

Gd doped barium hexaferrite (BaFe12−xGdxO19, x = 0.0–0.7) has been synthesized by the sol-gel method to explore its magnetic and MCE (magnetocaloric effect) properties. The materials crystallize to hexagonal magnetoplumbite phase. Average particle size decreases with the increase in Gd concentration in barium hexaferrite (BHF). The coercive field increases from 3.2 to 4.8 kOe, and saturation magnetization decreases from 68.21 to 54.23 emu/g with the increase in Gd concentration from x = 0.0 to x = 0.7. These large changes in magnetic parameters reveal the effect of Gd concentration in BHF. The saturation magnetization monotonously reduces with an increase in Gd concentration in BHF due to a decrease in average particle sizes. The saturation magnetization is found to be higher at a lower temperature (60 K) compared to that of room temperature (300 K). It is due to a reduction in thermal energy at low temperature which is smaller compared to the magnetic Gibbs free energy at low temperature. Hence, the magnetic spins are freezing along the applied magnetic field direction at the low temperature. Also, the magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant (obtained by the "Law of Approach to Saturation method") is found to be more at low temperature compared to that of room temperature due to an increase in the strength of spin-orbit coupling with the decrease in temperature (i.e. thermal energy). The M-T curves and M-H hysteresis loops reveal paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition at the Curie temperature. The maximum entropy change was found to be in the range of 0.12–0.72 J/kgK in a window of the applied magnetic field of 0.5–3 T, and the corresponding RCPmax was found to be 2.5–27.5 J/kg. The present study opens a window to explore the MCE on BHF based material.

Mechanical Regulation of the Magnetic Properties of Uniaxial Anisotropic Hexaferrite Thin Films

Flexible oxide thin films with uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy $({K}_{u})$ not only have many applications in flexible electronics, but also provide an ideal low-crystal-symmetry material for a fundamental understanding of the competitive interplay among magnetocrystalline anisotropy, shape anisotropy, and stress anisotropy. However, an understanding of the mechanical tuning of magnetic parameters in flexible oxide films with ${K}_{u}$ has not been realized up to now. In this work, epitaxial flexible hexaferrite ${\mathrm{Ba}\mathrm{Fe}}_{12}{\mathrm{O}}_{19}$ thin films with a room temperature out-of-plane ${K}_{u}$ of 1.1 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{5}$ J/m${}^{3}$ are fabricated. The continuous and controllable tuning of magnetic parameters is found to be realizable by different bending radii of the film. The changes in magnetic parameters are symmetrical under tensile and compressive bending due to the dominance of film geometry and bending-stress directions, which are perpendicular to the easy axis of ${K}_{u}$. The micromagnetic simulations further show that the magnitude of ${K}_{u}$ plays a critical role in the mechanical tuning performance of the film, where high ${K}_{u}$ drastically reduces the role of stress anisotropy and increases the magnetic bending repeatability of the film by suppressing bending-defect-related anisotropy degradation. This work not only provides an understanding of the role of the direction and magnitude of ${K}_{u}$ in the flexible thin films, but also demonstrates that the flexible hexaferrite film is one of the best materials for mechanical tunable devices up to the millimeter-wave region.

Tectonic forcing of environmental transition in Central Asia at ~11–9 Ma

A comprehensive understanding of the Neogene paleoenvironmental evolution of Central Asia is important for predicting the future climatic and environmental conditions within the region. However, our understanding of the relative roles of Tibetan Plateau (TP) uplift and global cooling in driving its paleoenvironmental evolution remain elusive. Here we present two well-dated (~16–5 Ma) independent environmental magnetic records from the northern TP, together with a comprehensive analysis of other well-dated Neogene environmental magnetic datasets for ten other sites from the northern TP. The results indicate synchronous changes in magnetic parameters which we interpret as reflecting a major environmental transition in Central Asia at ~11–9 Ma, which is supported by evidence from multiple independent paleoecological and paleoclimatic studies. A major environmental transition at 11–9 Ma is also supported by the results of linear and non-linear analyses of the magnetic records of the two studied sections. Our analyses reveal that prior to ~11 Ma, the environmental fluctuations within the QB were primarily driven by insolation variations modulated by Earth orbital parameters; however, after ~11 Ma this influence faded and there was a shift from a stable environmental system, characterized by periodic fluctuations, to an unstable system with erratic fluctuations. The timing of this phase shift in the paleoenvironment of Central Asia was not related to global cooling but it coincided with extensive tectonic activity in the TP. Together with conceptual models and previous numerical simulations results, we conclude that a major shift of the dominant driver of Central Asia paleoenvironment occurred at ~11–9 Ma and that uplift of the TP, rather than global cooling, was responsible.

Aging effect on the magnetic properties of Mn12-stearate single-molecule magnets anchored onto the surface of spherical silica nanoparticles

The effects of structural and magnetic aging in Mn12-stearate single-molecule magnets (SMMs) deposited on the surface of 300 nm spherical silica nanoparticles were investigated. It was pointed out that the molecules attached on the surface preserve its magnetic characteristics (hysteresis in M(H) loops and slow magnetic relaxation). However, the observed magnetic properties evolve over time revealing significant changes. DC susceptibility studies together with Raman spectroscopy were applied to investigate this aging effect. Measurements over 221 days period showed change of magnetic parameters: exponential decrease of coercive field from 4.5 kOe to 150 Oe (with τc = 33 days) and remnant magnetization from 0.072 emu/g to 0.0022 emu/g (with τrem = 46 days). Time-dependent magnetization measurements have indicated the presence of slow magnetic relaxations (Ueff = 33.6 K) for the fresh sample in temperature range 2.0–3.0 K. However, the aged sample (221 days after synthesis) did not show typical relaxations, but a magnetic viscosity behavior was observed. The Raman measurements revealed partial decomposition of stearate groups and possible formation of hydroxyl system over time, which explain the observed magnetic changes.

Magnetic analysis of cobalt oxide nanoparticles comprised boro-tellurite glass with erbium lanthanide

We report the cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) assisted modifications of magnetic properties of melt-quench synthesized Er3+ doped sodium magnesium boro-tellurite glass. The changes in magnetic parameters are attributed to the difference in the content of Co3O4 NPs. XRD pattern confirmed the amorphous nature of the newly doped glasses. Surface plasmon band of Co3O4 NPs in the glass revealed two peaks which are corresponded to the characteristic of spinel-type cobalt oxide phase and TEM images manifest the occurrence of non-spherical Co3O4 NPs having an average diameter 6.02 ± 0.10 nm. Magnetic study using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) revealed the paramagnetic behavior of Co ion in boro-tellurite glass doped Er3+ contributes by the embedded Co3O4 NPs. The lower value of squareness ratio in the sample is attributed by stronger interactions among grains implying the appearance of isotropic behavior, hence, making them as a multi-domain magnetic with the addition of Co3O4 NPs. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectra revealed three prominent value of g factor at ranges of 4.07–4.22, 2.97–3.02, 2.11–2.41. Furthermore, the tetrahedral symmetry contribution is increased as inferred from the oxidation states of Co2+ ions probed by EPR.

A local clay-varve chronology of Onega Ice Lake, NW Russia

Onega Ice Lake developed in front of the receding Late Weichselian ice margin in Russian Karelia. Glacial varves that formed in Onega Ice Lake have been earlier studied by means of varve counts, palaeomagnetism and 14C AMS dates from small lakes north of modern Lake Onega and from Lake Onega proper. Synchronous changes in magnetic parameters and similar stratigraphy of these varve records together with the existence of basin-wide marker interval of pink-coloured varves have been used for core-to-core correlation and palaeogeographic interpretations. Unfortunately, there are missing varve-to-varve correlations between these cores. We present a 1155 yr long local varve chronology based on 3 parallel overlapping cores from two small lakes in the Zaonezhsky Peninsula at the northern coast of Lake Onega. Varve counts and matching of varve series were made from digital images. Following the textural, structural, colour and thickness changes of varves within Onega Ice Lake varve series, six characteristic varve units are identified. These clay units reflect changing sedimentary conditions at the time of accumulation that in general can be interpreted as a progressively increasing distance to the retreating ice margin. Variations in varve thickness superimposed on that overall trend, namely two episodes of abrupt and consistent decrease in varve thickness, do not correspond to known lake-level changes or shifts in outflow directions. AMS chronology for deglaciation of Lake Onega basin gives some evidences for correlation of above intervals of decreased varve thickness with the GI-1c2 and GI-1B cold events in NGRIP δ 18O event stratigraphy but further age estimations are needed to confirm presented correlations. Interval of reddish-brown varves – earlier described also as the ‘pink horizon’ – was observed in all studied sequences, and according to varve correlation, at the same stratigraphical level, which proves its basin-wide synchronous appearance. Ca 100 km south of our study area, Saarnisto and Saarinen (2001) reported ca 200 more varves compared to our results. Visual correlation of varve thickness graphs places these extra varves to the proximal part of the series and indicate a rapid ice recession from the main lake basin to the northern Lake Onega area with the ice recession rate ca 500 m per year.

Effect of Annealing Treatment on Mechanical and Magnetic Softening Behaviors of Cold Rolled Interstitial-Free Steel

The recovery and recrystallization behaviors of low-carbon interstitial-free steel are investigated at different annealing temperatures (200-690 °C) through correlation between the changes in magnetic parameters (coercivity and r.m.s. voltage), hardness, tensile strength and high-angle grain boundary fractions (HAB). Magnetic parameters and tensile strength show a significant change within recovery region (200-500 °C), while the hardness variation is very minimal at this temperature region. On the other hand, the hardness is abruptly changed compared to magnetic properties at higher annealing temperature (550-640 °C). The grain boundary characteristics and microtexture evolution occurring at recrystallization regime are evaluated by orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) and orientation distribution function (ODF) through electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). The increase in recrystallization fraction noticeably affects microtexture property, justifying with the strengthening of γ-fiber, weakening of α-fiber and disappearance of rotated cube component with increasing annealing temperatures.

Pyrolysis-controlled synthesis and magnetic properties of sol–gel electrospun nickel cobaltite nanostructures

Nickel cobaltite (NCO) is a binary transition-metal oxide, which is extensively used as an electrocatalyst and magnetic material. NCO nanofibers and NCO/graphene composite exhibit high electrochemical reactivity due to the directional bridging of NCO particles. This makes NCO a promising candidate electrode material for use in supercapacitors and batteries. Besides, NCO is also a promising magnetic material due to its unique structural composition, where the cations are seated in octahedral sites surrounded by oxygen vacancies. In the present work, a simple and reliable method was discovered for tuning the morphological and structural changes of nickel cobaltite (NCO) nanoparticles, which were reshaped along the NCO nanofibers, by controlling the pyrolysis soaking time. As the pyrolysis soaking time increases, NCO transforms from inverse spinel to normal spinel; and the morphology of NCO nanoparticles changes from spherical to rod-like. These changes were validated by the hypsochromic peak shifts in Raman, and FTIR spectroscopies. The magnetic measurements reveal changes in the shape of the hysteresis loop, which are explained on the basis of structural and morphological changes in the nanostructure. The net magnetisation increases and coercivity decreases, with an increase in pyrolysis soaking time. These changes in magnetic parameters are attributed to structural changes caused by the formation of oxygen vacancies, and surface effects due to switching in morphology of the NCO nanoparticle.

Structural, Magnetic, and Dielectric Properties of Conventional- and Microwave-Sintered Ni0.6Zn0.4−xCu x Fe2O4

In the present work, structural, magnetic, and dielectric properties of conventional- and microwave-sintered Ni0.6Zn0.4-xCu x Fe2 O 4 (x = 0.0 to 0.4 in steps of 0.1) are studied. X-ray diffraction measurements confirm the formation of a single spinel phase. Crystallite size estimated from Scherrer’s method found between 30–41 nm and 36–28.5 nm in conventional- and microwave-sintered samples respectively. The lattice constant decreases with Cu substitution, suggesting the incorporation of Cu into the spinel lattice. SEM images reveal that microwave sintering results in larger grains with intragranular pores. Saturation magnetization was found to decrease with Cu content. Cation distribution estimated from the magnetization data supports the observed changes in magnetic parameters. A significant influence on microstructure and cation redistribution on dielectric properties are observed for microwave-sintered samples.

Low-temperature magnetic properties of monoclinic pyrrhotite with particular relevance to the Besnus transition

Monoclinic pyrrhotite (Fe7S8) owes its ferrimagnetism to an ordered array of Fe vacancies. Its magnetic properties change markedly around 30 K, in what is known as the Besnus transition. Plausible explanations for the Besnus transition are either due to changes in crystalline anisotropy from a transformation in crystal symmetry or from the establishment of a two-phase system with magnetic interaction between the two phases. To help resolve this discrepancy, we measured hysteresis loops every 5° and backfield curves every 10° in the basal plane of an oriented single crystal of monoclinic pyrrhotite at 300 K and every 2 K from 50 K through the Besnus transition until 20 K. Between 50 and 30 K, hysteresis loops possess double inflections between crystallographic a-axes and only a single inflection parallel to the a-axes. Magnetization energy calculations and relative differences of the loops show a sixfold symmetry in this temperature range. We propose that the inflections stem from magnetic axis switching, which is both field and temperature dependent, in a manner somewhat analogous to an isotropic point where magnetocrystalline constants change their sign. The Besnus transition is best characterized by changes in magnetic remanence and coercivity over a 6° temperature span (28–34 K) with a maximum rate of change at 30 K. A surprising yet puzzling finding is that the coercivity ratio becomes less than unity below the transition when fourfold symmetry arises. Because the changes in magnetic parameters are linked to the crystal structure, we conclude the Besnus transition owes its origin to a distortion of the crystallographic axes below 30 K rather than an apparition of a two-phase system. An isothermal magnetization of natural pyrrhotite cycled from room temperature to successively lower temperatures through the Besnus transition decreases 2–4 times less than equivalent grain sizes of magnetite, with less than a 10 per cent loss in remanence between 300 and 150 K in pseudo-single-domain (PSD) pyrrhotite. As PSD monoclinic pyrrhotite carries the magnetic remanence in some meteorites, it is likely that low-temperature cycling in space then warming to ambient conditions at the Earth's surface will have only a minor influence on palaeointensity values derived from those meteorites.

Seasonal changes in magnetic parameters of sediments with changing redox conditions in Hiroshima Bay, Japan

AbstractTo describe and interpret the relationship between spatial and seasonal changes in the sedimentary environment of nearshore sediments and their magnetic properties, magnetic and geochemical analyses were performed on sediment samples from three stations in Hiroshima Bay, Japan. Vertical stratification of the water column in the bay changes throughout the year, and magnetic hysteresis parameters and mineralogy in the bay sediments vary in response to changes in redox conditions of bottom waters. Magnetite and hematite are present year‐round at all stations. The presence of maghemitized magnetite is inferred at a station located at the entrance to the bay. Greigite is recognized at all stations in September 2011 but is not found at the entrance to the bay when water column stratification is disturbed from October 2011. The presence of maghemite and goethite is inferred at two stations in the inner bay when the sedimentary environment is oxic. The remanent coercivity/coercivity ratio (Hcr/Hc) also varies, both spatially and temporally, which reflects changes in magnetic mineralogy. Increased of Hcr/Hc values are likely to be caused by goethite and/or maghemite formation when water column stratification is disturbed and the seafloor is oxic. Concentration‐dependent magnetic parameters do not respond to seasonal changes in the redox conditions of bottom waters. Reaction times and/or changes in chemical and physical conditions may be insufficient to affect these parameters in the sediments of Hiroshima Bay.

Ionizable Nitroxides for Studying Local Electrostatic Properties of Lipid Bilayers and Protein Systems by EPR.

Electrostatic interactions are known to play a major role in the myriad of biochemical and biophysical processes. Here, we describe biophysical methods to probe local electrostatic potentials of proteins and lipid bilayer systems that are based on an observation of reversible protonation of nitroxides by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Two types of probes are described: (1) methanethiosulfonate derivatives of protonatable nitroxides for highly specific covalent modification of the cysteine's sulfhydryl groups and (2) spin-labeled phospholipids with a protonatable nitroxide tethered to the polar head group. The probes of both types report on their ionization state through changes in magnetic parameters and degree of rotational averaging, thus, allowing the electrostatic contribution to the interfacial pKa of the nitroxide, and, therefore, the local electrostatic potential to be determined. Due to their small molecular volume, these probes cause a minimal perturbation to the protein or lipid system. Covalent attachment secures the position of the reporter nitroxides. Experimental procedures to characterize and calibrate these probes by EPR, and also the methods to analyze the EPR spectra by simulations are outlined. The ionizable nitroxide labels and the nitroxide-labeled phospholipids described so far cover an exceptionally wide range of ca. 2.5-7.0 pH units, making them suitable to study a broad range of biophysical phenomena, especially at the negatively charged lipid bilayer surfaces. The rationale for selecting proper electrostatically neutral interface for probe calibration, and examples of lipid bilayer surface potential studies, are also described.

Mineral magnetic characterization of the Upper Pleniglacial Nussloch loess sequence (Germany): an insight into local environmental processes

Presently, most loess/palaeosol magnetic susceptibility records are interpreted as following either the wind-vigour model or the pedogenic enhancement model. However redoxomorphic processes induced by waterlogging, often referred to gleying in the loess literature, are also known to alter loess deposits but their impact on loess/palaeosol magnetic susceptibility records has received little attention. The reported rock magnetic study aims to characterize the mineral magnetic response of loess to waterlogging-induced redoxomorphic processes, thus improving our understanding of mineral magnetic changes within loess deposits with respect to environmental and climate conditions. The Nussloch loess-palaeosol deposit (Rhine Valley, Germany) was targeted because it is one of the best-studied Pleniglacial deposits for Western Europe in which numerous tundra gley intervals have been identified. Moreover, a comprehensive high-resolution environmental magnetism study has never been undertaken for this site. Various rock magnetism experiments were conducted at both room and low temperatures to characterise the composition, concentration and relative magnetic grain size of the mineral magnetic assemblage. The relative changes in magnetic parameters within the investigated loess interval are primarily controlled by (1) varying concentrations of coarse-grained ferrimagnetic particles of detrital (aeolian) origin and (2) dissolution of fine-grained ferrimagnetic particles related to in situ post-depositional alteration promoted by waterlogging-induced redoxomorphic processes. Goethite is found to be ubiquitous throughout the studied interval and is argued to have both a primary (aeolian) and secondary (in situ) origin. We conclude, that redoxomorphic processes induced by waterlogging, if present, will hinder the interpretation of magnetic susceptibility variations within loess and palaeosol deposits following the expected relationships dictated by the wind-vigour and the pedogenic enhancement magnetism models.

Enhancement of Interparticle Exchange Coupling in CoFe2O4/CoFe2 Composite Nanoceramics Via Spark Plasma Sintering Technology

Powders and nanoceramics composed of composites of CoFe2O4, CoFe2, and a small amount of FeO were prepared by heating CoFe2O4 powder in reducing atmosphere and by sintering the product of reducing reaction at 350°C via spark plasma sintering technology. In the powders, increase in the molar ratios of CoFe2:CoFe2O4 and a great change in magnetic parameters were observed with the change in heating temperature from 300°C to 400°C, and the dominance of dipole interaction over exchange coupling in the interparticle interactions was confirmed by the steps in magnetic hysteresis loops and the negative Henkel plots. However, in the nanoceramics, significant enhancement in exchange coupling was found when the sintering temperature was raised to 500°C and 650°C, which was confirmed by both the positivity of Henkel plot and the single‐phase style of the magnetic hysteresis loop.

Crystal and Magnetic Structures and Properties of BiMnO3+δ

Crystal and magnetic structures of BiMnO(3+delta) (delta = 0.03, 0.08, and 0.14) have been determined by the Rietveld method from neutron diffraction data at 8-10 and 290 K. BiMnO(3.03) (= Bi(0.99)Mn(0.99)O(3)) crystallizes in a monoclinic system (the refinement was performed in space group C2/c; Z = 8; a = 9.5313(3) A, b = 5.57791(17) A, c = 9.7375(4) A, beta = 108.951(2) degrees at 290 K). BiMnO(3.08) (= Bi(0.974)Mn(0.974)O(3)) crystallizes in space group P2(1)/c (Z = 8; a = 9.5565(4) A, b = 5.51823(16) A, c = 9.7051(4) A, beta = 109.442(3) degrees at 290 K). It was found that Mn vacancies are localized mainly in one Mn site (among three sites) in Bi(0.974)Mn(0.974)O(3). Vacancy-ordering and charge-ordering scenarios are suggested as possible reasons for the crystal symmetry change compared with Bi(0.99)Mn(0.99)O(3). BiMnO(3.03) and BiMnO(3.08) are ferromagnetic below T(C) = 82 and 68 K, respectively, with magnetic moments along the monoclinic b axes. Refined magnetic moments at 10 K are 2.88(2)micro(B) in BiMnO(3.03) and 2.33(2)micro(B) in BiMnO(3.08). BiMnO(3.14) (= Bi(0.955)Mn(0.955)O(3)) crystallizes in an orthorhombic system (space group Pnma; Z = 4; a = 5.5136(4) A, b = 7.8069(8) A, and c = 5.5454(5) A at 290 K), and its structure is similar to that of LaMnO(3.11)-LaMnO(3.15). No magnetic reflections were found in BiMnO(3.14) down to 8 K, in agreement with its spin-glass magnetic state. Magnetic and chemical properties of BiMnO(3+delta) (0.02 < or = delta < or = 0.14) have also been investigated and compared with those of LaMnO(3+delta). Systematic changes of magnetic parameters in BiMnO(3+delta) were found to depend on delta.