Quantification of pedogenic particles masked by geogenic magnetic fraction

Pedogenic magnetic fraction in soils is attributed to fine-grained particles, i.e. superparamagnetic grains. In the case of a strongly magnetic geogenic fraction, pedogenic magnetic contribution is hard to detect. To the best of our knowledge, detailed research into the masking of pedogenic superparamagnetic grains and quantification of this effect has not yet been carried out. The principal aim of our research is to quantify the influence of coarse-grained ferrimagnetic fraction on the detection of the superparamagnetic grains. In order to describe the masking phenomenon, volume and frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility were determined on a set of laboratory prepared samples composed of natural substances: a diamagnetic quartz matrix, detrital coarse-grained ferrimagnetic crystals from alkaline and ultra-alkaline igneous rocks, and superparamagnetic soil concretions formed in the Haplic Cambisol. Mineralogy, concentration, type and grain size of the tested material were described by parameters of environmental magnetism. The magnetic parameters distinguish both geogenic multidomain and pedogenic superparamagnetic grains. The magnetic signal of the superparamagnetic grains is gradually masked by the increasing proportion of multidomain grains of magnetite/maghemite. The experiment clearly describes the masking effect and brings new insight to studies dealing with strongly magnetic soils of natural and/or highly contaminated origin as a tool for estimation of superparamagnetic pedogenic contribution.

Specific Heat on Single-crystalline YVO3

The specific heat of single-crystalline YVO3 was measured from 2 K up to 250 K at zero field. The results reveal three transitions, at around 75, 115, and 200 K. The transitions at around 115 K and 200 K show that the phase transition is of the second-order type, whereas at around 75 K, unusual features of the specific heat are found. These unusual features are attributed to the effect of a large change in the volume. The specific heat data were analyzed in terms of a lattice contribution, a Schottky contribution and an excess magnetic contribution at high temperature. The magnetic contribution well above the magnetic ordering temperature is ascribed to short-range interactions due to the presence of strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy. The magnetic entropy considered by using this approach is 9.13 J/mole K which is close to the theoretical estimate for the S = 1 system.

A new theoretical approach to the strain dependence of magnetic crystal-field anisotropy

We report on the derivation of analytical equations for ab-initio calculations of the strain dependence of crystal-electric-field (CEF) parameters for arbitrary deformations. The calculation is based on the fundamental assumption that the charge distribution deforms in the same way as the crystal. Based on this deformed-charge model, simple formulas for the practical usage are given for various site symmetries of cubic lattices under uniform strain. These formulas can be used to predict the change of the magnetic crystal-field anisotropy under strain, which is important for the design of magnetic materials and devices. As an example for the power of the method, we present a calculation of the magnetic contribution to the thermal expansion in some rare-earth-based materials.

Regimes of motion of magnetocapillary swimmers

The dynamics of a triangular magnetocapillary swimmer is studied using the lattice Boltzmann method. We extend on our previous work, which deals with the self-assembly and a specific type of the swimmer motion characterized by the swimmer’s maximum velocity centred around the particle’s inverse viscous time. Here, we identify additional regimes of motion. First, modifying the ratio of surface tension and magnetic forces allows to study the swimmer propagation in the regime of significantly lower frequencies mainly defined by the strength of the magnetocapillary potential. Second, introducing a constant magnetic contribution in each of the particles in addition to their magnetic moment induced by external fields leads to another regime characterized by strong in-plane swimmer reorientations that resemble experimental observations. Graphic Abstract

Classification of a Complexly Mixed Magnetic Mineral Assemblage in Pacific Ocean Surface Sediment by Electron Microscopy and Supervised Magnetic Unmixing

Unambiguous magnetic mineral identification in sediments is a prerequisite for reconstructing paleomagnetic and paleoenvironmental information from environmental magnetic parameters. We studied a deep-sea surface sediment sample from the Clarion Fracture Zone region, central Pacific Ocean, by combining magnetic measurements and scanning and transmission electron microscopic analyses. Eight titanomagnetite and magnetite particle types are recognized based on comprehensive documentation of crystal morphology, size, spatial arrangements, and compositions, which are indicative of their corresponding origins. Type-1 particles are detrital titanomagnetites with micron- and submicron sizes and irregular and angular shapes. Type-2 and -3 particles are well-defined octahedral titanomagnetites with submicron and nanometer sizes, respectively, which are likely related to local hydrothermal and volcanic activity. Type-4 particles are nanometer-sized titanomagnetites hosted within silicates, while type-5 particles are typical dendrite-like titanomagnetites that likely resulted from exsolution within host silicates. Type-6 particles are single domain magnetite magnetofossils related to local magnetotactic bacterial activity. Type-7 particles are superparamagnetic magnetite aggregates, while Type-8 particles are defect-rich single crystals composed of many small regions. Electron microscopy and supervised magnetic unmixing reveal that type-1 to -5 titanomagnetite and magnetite particles are the dominant magnetic minerals. In contrast, the magnetic contribution of magnetite magnetofossils appears to be small. Our work demonstrates that incorporating electron microscopic data removes much of the ambiguity associated with magnetic mineralogical interpretations in traditional rock magnetic measurements.

Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor ZnO: Magnetic Ordering with Transition Metal and Rare Earth Ions

For advancement in future spintronics, the diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs) might be understood for their origin of ferromagnetic aptness. It not much clear to the ferromagnetism in DMS, that is intrinsic or via dopant clustering formation. For this, we have included a review study for the doping of transition metal and rare earth ions in ZnO. It is realized that the antiferromagnetic ordering is found in doped ZnO to achieve high-TC ferromagnetism. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra techniques have been used to detect the wurtzite ZnO structure and lattice defects. Since ZnO has different types of morphology formation that is generally dependent on synthesis conditions and dopant level. The band gap energy of ZnO and lattice defect formation are shown by photoluminescence technique. The room temperature ferromagnetism is described with bound magnetic polaron (BMP) model in which oxygen vacancies play a major role. However, the temperature-dependent conditions are responsible for ferromagnetic ordering. The first principle calculation is used for dopant ions in ZnO for their replacement of Zn2+ atoms in the wurtzite structure as well as magnetic contribution.

Sn2+ Doping: A Strategy for Tuning of Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Magnetization Dipping Temperature/Amplitude, Irreversibility, and Curie Point

Doped magnetite (SnxFe3-2/3xO4) nanoparticles (NPs) (12–50 nm) with different amount of Sn2+ ions (x) were synthesized using co-precipitation method. Sn2+ doping reduces the anticipated oxidation of Fe3O4 NPs to maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), making them attractive in several magnetic applications. Detailed characterizations during heating–cooling cycles revealed the possibility of tuning the unusual observed magnetization dipping temperature/amplitude, irreversibility, and Curie point of these NPs. We attribute this dip to the chemical reduction of γ-Fe2O3 at the NPs surfaces. Along with an increase in the dipping temperature, we found that doping with Sn2+ reduces the dipping amplitude, until it approximately disappears when x = 0.150. Based on the core-shell structure of these NPs, a phenomenological expression that combines both modified Bloch law (M = M0[1 − γ(T/TC)]β) and a modified Curie–Weiss law (M = − α[1/(T − TC)δ]) is developed in order to explain the observed M-T behavior at different applied external magnetic fields and for different Sn2+ concentrations. By applying high enough magnetic field, the value of the parameters γ and δ ≈ 1 which are the same in modified Bloch and Curie–Weiss laws. They do not change with the magnetic field and depend only on the material structure and size. The power β for high magnetic field was 2.6 which is as expected for this size of nanoparticles with the core dominated magnetization. However, the β value fluctuates between 3 and 10 for small magnetic fields indicating an extra magnetic contribution from the shell structure presented by Curie–Weiss term. The parameter (α) has a very small value and it turns to negative values for high magnetic fields.

Properties of two-temperature magnetized advective accretion flow around rotating black hole

ABSTRACT We study the two-temperature magnetized advective accretion flow around the Kerr black holes (BHs). During accretion, ions are heated up due to viscous dissipation, and when Coulomb coupling becomes effective, they transfer a part of their energy to the electrons. On the contrary, electrons lose energy due to various radiative cooling processes, namely bremsstrahlung, synchrotron, and Comtonization processes, respectively. To account for the magnetic contribution inside the disc, we consider the toroidal magnetic fields which are assumed to be dominant over other components. Moreover, we adopt the relativistic equation of state to describe the thermal characteristics of the flow. With this, we calculate the global transonic accretion solutions around the rotating BHs. We find that accretion solution containing multiple critical points may harbour shock wave provided the standing shock conditions are satisfied. Further, we investigate the shock properties, such as shock location (xs) and compression ratio (R) that delineate the post-shock corona (hereafter PSC) and find that the dynamics of PSC is controlled by the flow parameters, such as accretion rate (${\dot{m}}$) and magnetic fields (β, defined as the ratio of gas pressure to the magnetic pressure), etc. Finally, we calculate the emission spectra of the accretion flows containing PSC and indicate that both ${\dot{m}}$ and β play the pivotal roles in explaining the spectral state transitions commonly observed for BH X-ray binaries.

Magnetization of lower crustal rocks - potential sources of long wavelength anomalies

<p>The occurrence and nature of primary magnetic phases in ultramafic rocks is a subject of debate. Studies of ultramafic rocks originating in the deep crust commonly report secondary magnetic phases due to later metamorphism, serpentinization, or alteration as sources for long-wavelength anomalies. To assess the potential magnetic contribution from primary magnetic minerals occurring ‘in situ’ in deep-seated ultramafic rocks, the stability of these phases at lower crustal pressure and temperature conditions must be addressed. However, to study the magnetization of deep-crustal rocks, we are limited to exposures of unaltered uplifted rocks. Studying the petrophysical and rock magnetic properties of these ultramafic rocks can aid in predicting magnetic behavior deeper in the crust.<span> </span></p><p>Here, we present the results of a petrophysical and rock magnetic study on the ultramafic rocks of the Reinfjord Ultramafic Complex (RUC). These rocks are part of the Seiland Igneous Province, a magmatic plumbing system that formed in the deep crust (25-35 km depth). The dunites and wehrlites are minimally serpentinized, which indicates that the magnetic oxides in these rocks may be representative of those at depth. The primary magnetic carriers in these rocks were characterized using optical and electron microscopy, hysteresis and FORC measurements, backfield unmixing curves, and scanning magnetic microscopy. The primary magnetic carriers in the RUC are Cr-magnetite blebs exsolved from Al-chromite, and exsolved magnetite lamellae within clinopyroxene. The magnetic carriers have a range of domain states from SD to MD.<span> </span></p><p>The ultramafic rocks from the RUC are remarkably pristine and therefore provide insight into the magnetization of the lower crust. Due to the presence of SD magnetic carriers, these rocks may hold a stable remanence at lower crustal conditions and therefore be a potential source for long-wavelength anomalies.</p>