Gabriel T. Landi

Magnetic hyperthermia investigation of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles: Comparison between experiment, linear response theory, and dynamic hysteresis simulations

Considerable effort has been made in recent years to optimize materials properties for magnetic hyperthermia applications. However, due to the complexity of the problem, several aspects pertaining to the combined influence of the different parameters involved still remain unclear. In this paper, we discuss in detail the role of the magnetic anisotropy on the specific absorption rate of cobalt-ferrite nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 3 to 14 nm. The structural characterization was carried out using x-ray diffraction and Rietveld analysis and all relevant magnetic parameters were extracted from vibrating sample magnetometry. Hyperthermia investigations were performed at 500 kHz with a sinusoidal magnetic field amplitude of up to 68 Oe. The specific absorption rate was investigated as a function of the coercive field, saturation magnetization, particle size, and magnetic anisotropy. The experimental results were also compared with theoretical predictions from the linear response theory and dynamic h...

Field dependent transition to the non-linear regime in magnetic hyperthermia experiments: Comparison between maghemite, copper, zinc, nickel and cobalt ferrite nanoparticles of similar sizes

Further advances in magnetic hyperthermia might be limited by biological constraints, such as using sufficiently low frequencies and low field amplitudes to inhibit harmful eddy currents inside the patients body. These incite the need to optimize the heating efficiency of the nanoparticles, referred to as the specific absorption rate (SAR). Among the several properties currently under research, one of particular importance is the transition from the linear to the non-linear regime that takes place as the field amplitude is increased, an aspect where the magnetic anisotropy is expected to play a fundamental role. In this paper we investigate the heating properties of cobalt ferrite and maghemite nanoparticles under the influence of a 500 kHz sinusoidal magnetic field with varying amplitude, up to 134 Oe. The particles were characterized by TEM, XRD, FMR and VSM, from which most relevant morphological, structural and magnetic properties were inferred. Both materials have similar size distributions and satu...

On the energy conversion efficiency in magnetic hyperthermia applications: A new perspective to analyze the departure from the linear regime

The success of magnetic hyperthermia cancer treatments rely strongly on the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles and their intricate dependence on the externally applied field. This is particularly more so as the response departs from the low field linear regime. In this paper we introduce a new parameter, referred to as the efficiency in converting electromagnetic energy into thermal energy, which is shown to be remarkably useful in the analysis of the system response, especially when the power loss is investigated as a function of the applied field amplitude. Using numerical simulations of dynamic hysteresis, through the stochastic Landau-Lifshitz model, we map in detail the efficiency as a function of all relevant parameters of the system and compare the results with simple—yet powerful—predictions based on heuristic arguments about the relaxation time.

Longitudinal dynamic hysteresis in single-domain particles

We present results for longitudinal dynamic hysteresis in single domain particles with uniaxial anisotropy. The combined influence of temperature, field-sweeping frequency, and field amplitude is discussed in detail. A novel and efficient numerical method is proposed, based on the direct solution of the infinite hierarchy of differential recurrence relations obtained from averaging over the stochastic realizations of the magnetic Langevin equation.

Influence of the magnetization damping on dynamic hysteresis loops in single domain particles

This article reports on the influence of the magnetization damping on dynamic hysteresis loops in single-domain particles with uniaxial anisotropy. The approach is based on the Neel–Brown theory and the hierarchy of differential recurrence relations, which follow from averaging over the realizations of the stochastic Landau–Lifshitz equation. A new method of solution is proposed, where the resulting system of differential equations is solved directly using optimized algorithms to explore its sparsity. All parameters involved in uniaxial systems are treated in detail, with particular attention given to the frequency dependence. It is shown that in the ferromagnetic resonance region, novel phenomena are observed for even moderately low values of the damping. The hysteresis loops assume remarkably unusual shapes, which are also followed by a pronounced reduction of their heights. Also demonstrated is that these features remain for randomly oriented ensembles and, moreover, are approximately independent of te...

Wigner Entropy Production Rate

The characterization of irreversibility in general quantum processes is an open problem of increasing technological relevance. Yet, the tools currently available to this aim are mostly limited to the assessment of dynamics induced by equilibrium environments, a situation that often does not match the reality of experiments at the microscopic and mesoscopic scale. We propose a theory of irreversible entropy production that is suited for quantum systems exposed to general, nonequilibrium reservoirs. We illustrate our framework by addressing a set of physically relevant situations that clarify both the features and the potential of our proposal.

The random dipolar-field approximation for systems of interacting magnetic particles

The dipolar interaction is known to play an important role on the magnetic properties of small magnetic particles. For moderate concentrations the most noticeable effect is an increase of the relaxation time, whereas for sufficiently dense systems some degree of correlational order may be observed. In this paper, a mean-field approximation is introduced to correctly account for these changes. It is based on the interpretation of the dipolar field, produced by an ensemble of particles, as a random field acting on a reference particle. This field contains the statistical moments of the magnetisation of the reference particle and is computed assuming a random spatial distribution of the particles. The result is a new term in the free energy of the reference particle, expressed as a cumulant expansion of the random field, carried up to fourth-order. This model correctly predicts both the increase in the relaxation time and a phase transition to a ferromagnetic state for sufficiently dense systems. The dynamic...

AC susceptibility as a tool to probe the dipolar interaction in magnetic nanoparticles

Abstract The dipolar interaction is known to substantially affect the properties of magnetic nanoparticles. This is particularly important when the particles are kept in a fluid suspension or packed within nano-carriers. In addition to its usual long-range nature, in these cases the dipolar interaction may also induce the formation of clusters of particles, thereby strongly modifying their magnetic anisotropies. In this paper we show how AC susceptibility may be used to obtain information regarding the influence of the dipolar interaction in a sample. We develop a model which includes both aspects of the dipolar interaction and may be fitted directly to the susceptibility data. The usual long-range nature of the interaction is implemented using a mean-field approximation, whereas the particle-particle aggregation is modeled using a distribution of anisotropy constants. The model is then applied to two samples studied at different concentrations. One consists of spherical magnetite nanoparticles dispersed in oil and the other of cubic magnetite nanoparticles embedded on polymeric nanospheres. We also introduce a simple technique to address the presence of the dipolar interaction in a given sample, based on the height of the AC susceptibility peaks for different driving frequencies.

Entropy production in linear Langevin systems

We study the entropy production rate in systems described by linear Langevin equations, containing mixed even and odd variables under time reversal. Exact formulas are derived for several important quantities in terms only of the means and covariances of the random variables in question. These include the total rate of change of the entropy, the entropy production rate, the entropy flux rate and the three components of the entropy production. All equations are cast in a way suitable for large-scale analysis of linear Langevin systems. Our results are also applied to different types of electrical circuits, which suitably illustrate the most relevant aspects of the problem.

High density flux of Co nanoparticles produced by a simple gas aggregation apparatus

Gas aggregation is a well known method used to produce clusters of different materials with good size control, reduced dispersion, and precise stoichiometry. The cost of these systems is relatively high and they are generally dedicated apparatuses. Furthermore, the usual sample production speed of these systems is not as fast as physical vapor deposition devices posing a problem when thick samples are needed. In this paper we describe the development of a multipurpose gas aggregation system constructed as an adaptation to a magnetron sputtering system. The cost of this adaptation is negligible and its installation and operation are both remarkably simple. The gas flow for flux in the range of 60-130 SCCM (SCCM denotes cubic centimeter per minute at STP) is able to completely collimate all the sputtered material, producing spherical nanoparticles. Co nanoparticles were produced and characterized using electron microscopy techniques and Rutherford back-scattering analysis. The size of the particles is around 10 nm with around 75 nm/min of deposition rate at the center of a Gaussian profile nanoparticle beam.