Difference between Brownian and Néel relaxation mechanisms in a magnetizing field

Abstract

Measurements of the dynamic susceptibility of a magnetic fluid based on cobalt ferrite particles stabilized in water by a double surfactant layer have been carried out. Cobalt ferrite, in comparison with magnetite, has a significantly higher energy of magnetic anisotropy. Therefore, for particles of cobalt ferrite, the Brownian mechanism of relaxation of magnetic moments is characteristic. The Debye (with a finite relaxation time) contribution to the dynamic susceptibility and the high-frequency (dispersionless) contribution are distinguished by constructing Cole-Cole diagrams. It was found that with an increase in the magnetizing field, the Debye contribution to the dynamic susceptibility decreases, while the high-frequency one (having a zero relaxation time) remains unchanged. The indicated property of the dynamic susceptibility of a fluid with a Brownian relaxation mechanism is radically different from the properties of the susceptibility of a fluid with Néel particles. Previously, measurements were made of the susceptibility of a fluid based on magnetite particles stabilized with oleic acid in kerosene. The magnetite particles have significantly lower anisotropy energy and are characterized by the predominance of the Néel relaxation mechanism. Turning on the magnetizing field caused a decrease in both the Debye part of the susceptibility and the high-frequency part of the susceptibility of magnetite particles.