Yumi Ijiri

Coupling and interface effects in magnetic oxide superlattices

Magnetic oxide superlattices are attractive model systems in which to study coupling and interface effects. After briefly summarizing synthesis and characterization methods, this review describes recent experimental results obtained in investigating epitaxial oxide multilayers comprised primarily of ferromagnetic/paramagnetic, ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic, and antiferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic materials. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for exchange coupling, exchange biasing, and novel magnetic structures.

Detection of spin coupling in iron nanoparticles with small angle neutron scattering

Aggregates of monodisperse iron-based nanoparticles were investigated by small-angle neutron scattering. The field dependence of the scattering intensity showed marked differences for particles depending on size and degree of oxidation. The angular dependence of the intensity indicated magnetic regions within an oxidized sample with spins perpendicular to the applied field, which dominated the scattering at the diffraction peak. The unexpected results are interpreted in terms of an iron core that is exchange coupled to an iron oxide shell.

Polarization-analyzed small-angle neutron scattering. II. Mathematical angular analysis

Polarization-analyzed small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is a powerful tool for the study of magnetic morphology with directional sensitivity. Building upon polarized scattering theory, this article presents simplified procedures for the reduction of longitudinally polarized SANS into terms of the three mutually orthogonal magnetic scattering contributions plus a structural contribution. Special emphasis is given to the treatment of anisotropic systems. The meaning and significance of scattering interferences between nuclear and magnetic scattering and between the scattering from magnetic moments projected onto distinct orthogonal axes are discussed in detail. Concise tables summarize the algorithms derived for the most commonly encountered conditions. These tables are designed to be used as a reference in the challenging task of extracting the full wealth of information available from polarization-analyzed SANS.

Inverted Linear Halbach Array for Separation of Magnetic Nanoparticles

A linear array of Nd-Fe-B magnets has been designed and constructed in an inverted Halbach configuration for use in separating magnetic nanoparticles. The array provides a large region of relatively low magnetic field, yet high magnetic field gradient in agreement with finite element modeling calculations. The magnet assembly has been combined with a flow channel for magnetic nanoparticle suspensions, such that for an appropriate distance away from the assembly, nanoparticles of higher moment aggregate and accumulate against the channel wall, with lower moment nanoparticles flowing unaffected. The device is demonstrated for iron oxide nanoparticles with diameters of ~5 and 20 nm. In comparison to other approaches, the inverted Halbach array is more amenable to modeling and to scaling up to preparative quantities of particles.

Particle moment canting in CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles

Polarization-analyzed small-angle neutron scattering methods are used to determine the spin morphology in high crystalline anisotropy, 11 nm diameter CoFe2O4 nanoparticle assemblies with randomly oriented easy axes. In moderate to high magnetic fields, the nanoparticles adopt a uniformly canted structure, rather than forming domains, shells, or other arrangements. The observed canting angles agree quantitatively with those predicted from an energy model dominated by Zeeman and anisotropy competition, with implications for the technological use of such nanoparticles.

Field evolution of magnetic correlation lengths in ϵ-Co nanoparticle assemblies

Small-angle neutron scattering measurements of Co nanoparticle assemblies reveal three characteristic length scales associated with the interparticle and intraparticle magnetic orders. The first length scale stemming from particle size and separation does not vary with applied field. In contrast, the magnetic correlation length increases from 71±9nm in zero field at 5K to greater than 1000nm in fields larger than 0.2T. The random-field length scale decreases from 37±8nm when H=0to9.1±0.3nm in H=0.2T, and the contribution of this term is less significant in large fields.

Spin canting across core/shell Fe3O4/MnxFe3−xO4 nanoparticles

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have become increasingly important in biomedical applications like magnetic imaging and hyperthermia based cancer treatment. Understanding their magnetic spin configurations is important for optimizing these applications. The measured magnetization of MNPs can be significantly lower than bulk counterparts, often due to canted spins. This has previously been presumed to be a surface effect, where reduced exchange allows spins closest to the nanoparticle surface to deviate locally from collinear structures. We demonstrate that intraparticle effects can induce spin canting throughout a MNP via the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI). We study ~7.4u2009nm diameter, core/shell Fe3O4/MnxFe3−xO4 MNPs with a 0.5u2009nm Mn-ferrite shell. Mössbauer spectroscopy, x-ray absorption spectroscopy and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism are used to determine chemical structure of core and shell. Polarized small angle neutron scattering shows parallel and perpendicular magnetic correlations, suggesting multiparticle coherent spin canting in an applied field. Atomistic simulations reveal the underlying mechanism of the observed spin canting. These show that strong DMI can lead to magnetic frustration within the shell and cause canting of the net particle moment. These results illuminate how core/shell nanoparticle systems can be engineered for spin canting across the whole of the particle, rather than solely at the surface.

Length Scales of Magnetic Correlations in √e¬μ-Co Nanoparticle Assemblies using Small Angle Neutron Scattering

This article presents experiments on the determination of the length scales of magnetic correlation in ε-Co nanoparticle assemblies using SANS (small angle neutron scattering). In this experiment a 0.5 nm neutron beam was passed through a sealed sample containing a dense assembly of the nanoparticles, and the scattered intensity was collected with two-dimensional detector. Data were collected with magnetic fields ranging from 0 to 5 T, which were applied perpendicular to the neutron beam. The temperature varied between 5 and 275 K.

Magnetic Interactions in Fe Nanoparticle Arrays

The preparation of monodisperse Fe nanoparticles and self-assembly into hcp and fcc or fcc-like arrays is described. Here dipolar interactions dominate for the interparticle spacings studied (1.4-3.4 nm). Comparison of the low temperature magnetic properties of multilayer arrays with those of dilute suspensions of the same particles show increased coercivity and slower magnetic relaxation in the arrays. Mean field calculations of magnetic interaction fields suggest the type of ordered structures formed.