Markus Gusenbauer

Fast stray field computation on tensor grids

A direct integration algorithm is described to compute the magnetostatic field and energy for given magnetization distributions on not necessarily uniform tensor grids. We use an analytically-based tensor approximation approach for function-related tensors, which reduces calculations to multilinear algebra operations. The algorithm scales with N4/3 for N computational cells used and with N2/3 (sublinear) when magnetization is given in canonical tensor format. In the final section we confirm our theoretical results concerning computing times and accuracy by means of numerical examples.

On the limits of coercivity in permanent magnets

The maximum coercivity that can be achieved for a given hard magnetic alloy is estimated by computing the energy barrier for the nucleation of a reversed domain in an idealized microstructure without any structural defects and without any soft magnetic secondary phases. For Sm1–zZrz(Fe1–yCoy)12–xTix based alloys, which are considered an alternative to Nd2Fe14B magnets with a lower rare-earth content, the coercive field of a small magnetic cube is reduced to 60% of the anisotropy field at room temperature and to 50% of the anisotropy field at elevated temperature (473 K). This decrease of the coercive field is caused by misorientation, demagnetizing fields, and thermal fluctuations.

Guided self-assembly of magnetic beads for biomedical applications

Abstract Micromagnetic beads are widely used in biomedical applications for cell separation, drug delivery, and hyperthermia cancer treatment. Here we propose to use self-organized magnetic bead structures which accumulate on fixed magnetic seeding points to isolate circulating tumor cells. The analysis of circulating tumor cells is an emerging tool for cancer biology research and clinical cancer management including the detection, diagnosis and monitoring of cancer. Microfluidic chips for isolating circulating tumor cells use either affinity, size or density capturing methods. We combine multiphysics simulation techniques to understand the microscopic behavior of magnetic beads interacting with soft magnetic accumulation points used in lab-on-chip technologies. Our proposed chip technology offers the possibility to combine affinity and size capturing with special antibody-coated bead arrangements using a magnetic gradient field created by Neodymium Iron Boron permanent magnets. The multiscale simulation environment combines magnetic field computation, fluid dynamics and discrete particle dynamics.

Micromagnetics of rare-earth efficient permanent magnets

The development of permanent magnets containing less or no rare-earth elements is linked to profound knowledge of the coercivity mechanism. Prerequisites for a promising permanent magnet material are a high spontaneous magnetization and a sufficiently high magnetic anisotropy. In addition to the intrinsic magnetic properties the microstructure of the magnet plays a significant role in establishing coercivity. The influence of the microstructure on coercivity, remanence, and energy density product can be understood by {using} micromagnetic simulations. With advances in computer hardware and numerical methods, hysteresis curves of magnets can be computed quickly so that the simulations can readily provide guidance for the development of permanent magnets. The potential of rare-earth reduced and free permanent magnets is investigated using micromagnetic simulations. The results show excellent hard magnetic properties can be achieved in grain boundary engineered NdFeB, rare-earth magnets with a ThMn12 structure, Co-based nano-wires, and L10-FeNi provided that the magnets microstructure is optimized.

Dynamics of magnetic particles in microfluidic channels

Many microfluidic systems using magnetic particles are established without a detailed knowledge about the inner physics. The current understanding of the controlled manipulation of magnetic beads is mostly based on the motion of particle compounds but not on the individual bead level. We developed a simulation environment that incorporates magnetic particle dynamics and hydrodynamics in laminar or turbulent flow conditions and in the presence of inhomogeneous external magnetic fields. With increased understanding of the control of magnetic particles existing applications can be improved and new applications can be designed.

Mesh-Based Modeling of Individual Cells and Their Dynamics in Biological Fluids

This text is aimed at providing both basic and advanced knowledge on the individual cell modeling in a flow. Besides the overview of various existing approaches, it is focused on mesh-based model and on its capabilities to cover complex mechano-elastic properties combined with adhesion and magnetic phenomena. We also describe validation procedures, offer an example of use of the model for better understanding of cell behavior and a short overview of future research directions.

Preconditioned nonlinear conjugate gradient method for micromagnetic energy minimization

Abstract Fast computation of demagnetization curves is essential for the computational design of soft magnetic sensors or permanent magnet materials. We show that a sparse preconditioner for a nonlinear conjugate gradient energy minimizer can lead to a speed up by a factor of 3 and 7 for computing hysteresis in soft magnetic and hard magnetic materials, respectively. As a preconditioner an approximation of the Hessian of the Lagrangian is used, which only takes local field terms into account. Preconditioning requires a few additional sparse matrix vector multiplications per iteration of the nonlinear conjugate gradient method, which is used for minimizing the energy for a given external field. The time to solution for computing the demagnetization curve scales almost linearly with problem size.

Cell Damage Index as Computational Indicator for Blood Cell Activation and Damage: Cell Damage Index as Computational Indicator

Abstract Shear‐induced hemolysis is a major concern in the design and optimization of blood‐contacting devices. Even with a small amount of mechanical stress, inflammatory reactions can be triggered in the cells. Blood damage is typically estimated using continuum fluid dynamics simulations. In this study, we report a novel cell damage index (CDI) obtained by simulations on the single‐cell level in a lattice Boltzmann fluid flow. The change of the cell surface area gives important information on mechanical stress of individual cells as well as for whole blood. We are using predefined basic channel designs to analyze and compare the newly developed CDI to the conventional blood damage calculations in very weak shear stress scenarios. The CDI can incorporate both volume fraction and channel geometry information into a single quantitative value for the characterization of flow in artificial chambers.

Effective uniaxial anisotropy in easy-plane materials through nanostructuring

Permanent magnet materials require a high uniaxial magneto-crystalline anisotropy. Exchange coupling between small crystallites with easy-plane anisotropy induces an effective uniaxial anisotropy if arranged accordingly. Nanostructuring of materials with easy-plane anisotropy is an alternative way to create hard-magnetic materials. The coercivity increases with decreasing feature size. The resulting coercive field is about 12 percent of the anisotropy field for a crystal size of 3.4 times the Bloch parameter.

Technologien zur Isolation im Blut zirkulierender Tumorzellen

ZusammenfassungDie Analyse zirkulierender Tumorzellen wird zur Beobachtung des Tumorwachstums oder zur Kontrolle des Therapieerfolgs eingesetzt. Mikrofluidik-Chips unterstützen das Auffinden, die Identifizierung und das Zählen von Zellen in peripherem Blut.AbstractThe analysis of circulating tumor cells supports the monitoring of tumor growth and can be used to control the success of therapies. Microfluidic chips help to detect, to identify and to count these cells in peripheral blood.