Abstract
Thermomagnetic measurements are used to obtain the size distribution and anisotropy of magnetic nanoparticles. An analytical transformation method is described which utilizes temperature-dependent zero-field cooling (ZFC) magnetization data to provide a quantitative measurement of the average diameter and relative abundance of superparamagnetic nanoparticles. Applying this method to self-assembled MnAs nanoparticles in MnAs-GaAs composite films reveals a log-normal size distribution and reduced anisotropy for nanoparticles compared to bulk materials. This analytical technique holds promise for rapid assessment of the size distribution of an ensemble of superparamagnetic nanoparticles.
Keywords
thermomagnetic measurements, mesoscale, nanoscale physics, analytical transformation method
Subject Categories
Nanoparticles, Anisotropy
Disciplines
Physics
Publication Date
2010
Permanent URL
Recommended Citation
DiPietro, R. S.; Johnson, H. G.; Bennett, S. P.; Nummy, T. J.; Lewis, L. H.; and Heiman, D., "Determining magnetic nanoparticle size distributions from thermomagnetic measurements" (2010). Physics Faculty Publications. Paper 98. http://hdl.handle.net/2047/d20000451
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Notes
Originally posted at http://arxiv.org/abs/1005.3252. Preprint of an article published in Applied Physics Letters, 2010.