Longitudinal domain wall formation in elongated assemblies of ferromagnetic nanoparticles.

Through evaporation of dense colloids of ferromagnetic ~13 nm ε-Co particles onto carbon substrates, anisotropic magnetic dipolar interactions can support formation of elongated particle structures with aggregate thicknesses of 100-400 nm and lengths of up to some hundred microns. Lorenz microscopy and electron holography reveal collective magnetic ordering in these structures. However, in contrast to continuous ferromagnetic thin films of comparable dimensions, domain walls appear preferentially as longitudinal, i.e., oriented parallel to the long axis of the nanoparticle assemblies. We explain this unusual domain structure as the result of dipolar interactions and shape anisotropy, in the absence of inter-particle exchange coupling.

Crossover from normal to anomalous diffusion in systems of field-aligned dipolar particles.

Using molecular dynamics simulations we investigate the translational dynamics of particles with dipolar interactions in homogenous external fields. For a broad range of concentrations, we find that the anisotropic, yet normal diffusive behavior characterizing weakly coupled systems becomes anomalous both parallel and perpendicular to the field at sufficiently high dipolar coupling and field strength. After the ballistic regime, chain formation first yields cagelike motion in all directions, followed by transient, mixed diffusive-superdiffusive behavior resulting from cooperative motion of the chains. The enhanced dynamics disappears only at higher densities close to crystallization.

Structure of ferrofluid nanofilms in homogeneous magnetic fields.

We report molecular dynamics simulations results for model ferrofluid films subject to an external, homogeneous magnetic field directed parallel or perpendicular to the film surfaces. The interactions between the magnetic nanoparticles are modeled via the Stockmayer potential. In a previous study [J. Jordanovic and S. H. L. Klapp, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 038302 (2008)] we have shown that an external field can control the number and internal structure of the layers characterizing the fluid films, in qualitative agreement with experiments. Here we explore the dependence of the layering effects on thermodynamic conditions, and we analyze the results from an energetic (microscopic and macroscopic) perspective. As a special case we investigate a monolayer to bilayer transition induced via a perpendicular field.

Field-induced layer formation in dipolar nanofilms.

Using molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that the layering of confined colloidal particles with dipolar interactions, such as ferrofluids, in slablike geometries can be controlled by homogeneous external fields. For suitable surface separations, strong fields directed perpendicular to the film plane do not only align the particles but create additional layers in the system. The reverse effect occurs with an in-plane field which can induce a collapse of layers. Both effects are accompanied by pronounced particle rearrangements in lateral directions. Our simulation results are consistent with recent experiments of ferrofluids at surfaces.