Confined ferrofluid droplet in crossed magnetic fields

When a ferrofluid drop is trapped in a horizontal Hele-Shaw cell and subjected to a vertical magnetic field, a fingering instability results in the droplet evolving into a complex branched structure. This fingering instability depends on the magnetic field ramp rate but also depends critically on the initial state of the droplet. Small perturbations in the initial droplet can have a large influence on the resulting final pattern. By simultaneously applying a stabilizing (horizontal) azimuthal magnetic field, we gain more control over the mode selection mechanism. We perform a linear stability analysis that shows that any single mode can be selected by appropriately adjusting the strengths of the applied fields. This offers a unique and accurate mode selection mechanism for this confined magnetic fluid system. We present the results of numerical simulations that demonstrate that this mode selection mechanism is quite robust and “overpowers” any initial perturbations on the droplet. This provides a predictable way to obtain patterns with any desired number of fingers.     

Separation of micro and sub-micro diamagnetic particles in dual ferrofluid streams based on negative magnetophoresis

In the present study, we numerically demonstrate an approach for separation of micro and sub-micro diamagnetic particles in dual ferrofluid streams based on negative magnetophoresis. The dual streams are constructed by an intermediate sheath flow, after which the negative magnetophoretic force induced by an array of permanent magnets dominates the separation of diamagnetic particles. A simple and efficient numerical model is developed to calculate the motions of particles under the action of magnetic field and flow field. Effects of the average flow velocity, the ratio of sheath fluid flow to sample fluid flow, the number of the magnet pair as well as the position of magnet pair are investigated. The optimal parametric condition for complete separation is obtained through the parametric analysis, and the separation principle is further elucidated by the force analysis. The separation of smaller micro and sub-micro diamagnetic particles is finally demonstrated. This study provides an insight into the negative magnetophoretic phenomenon and guides the fabrication of feasible, low-cost diagnostic devices for sub-micro particle separation.     

Spectroscopic and photoluminescence studies on optically transparent magnetic nanocomposites based on sol–gel glass: Fe3O4

Sol–gel glasses with Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles having particle sizes laying in the range 10–20 nm were encapsulated in the porous network of silica resulting in nanocomposites having both optical and magnetic properties. Spectroscopic and photoluminescence studies indicated that Fe₃O₄ nanocrystals are embedded in the silica matrix with no strong Si–O–Fe bonding. The composites exhibited a blue luminescence. The optical absorption edge of the composites red shifted with increasing concentration of Fe₃O₄ in the silica matrix. There is no obvious shift in the position of the luminescence peak with the concentration of Fe₃O₄ except that the intensity of the peak is decreased. The unique combinations of magnetic and optical properties are appealing for magneto–optical applications.     

胶体铁磁流体的光子特性研究

这篇综述回顾了我们今年来在铁磁流体方面的一些研究工作。铁磁流体是一种纳米磁颗粒或亚铁磁颗粒悬浮在基液（如：水或煤油）中形成的悬浮液。铁磁流体之所以受到广泛关注,是因为它们在许多方面都有着潜在应用,例如在机械工程和生物医学等领域。再次综述中,我们首先介绍了铁磁流体的场感应各向异性结构,然后,介绍了几种铁磁流体基软物质材料的光学性质,即：光学负折射、磁控光子待隙和非线性光学响应。我们采用的研究方法主要是分子动力学模拟,有效煤质近似和有限元模拟.     

Goos–Hänchen shifts of a light beam reflected from the interface of colloidal ferrofluids

Controllable Goos–Hänchen shift of a light beam reflected from the colloidal ferrofluids is investigated by using the stationary-phase method. It is found that the Goos–Hänchen shift can be easily controlled by the local H_e factor and the volume factor. Using this scheme, the peak value, the peak position and the width of the Goos–Hänchen shift can all be controlled by adjusting the external magnetic field for a fixed configuration, which also provides a possibility for obtaining larger negative Goos–Hänchen shift by changing the external controlling field. Our results have potential applications in optical devices.     

Frozen‐In Magnetic Order in Uniaxial Magnetic Gels: Preparation and Physical Properties

We describe the preparation and characterization of uniaxial magnetic gels. Fibril formation of the embedded magnetic particles generates easily detectable magnetic and optical anisotropies. A finite magnetization is frozen‐in and leads to a ferromagnetic‐like response in small homogeneous external magnetic fields. We present, for the first time, frequency dependent measurements of the shear modulus G′. Despite their optical and magnetic anisotropy, the gels are mechanically isotropic.

The time‐dependent G′ for a ferrogel in the parallel orientation in a homogeneous field of 200 mT.     

激光诱导光栅技术测量磁性液体的热扩散系数

在室温和常压下采用激光诱导光栅技术实验测量不同体积分数的磁性液体的热扩散系数,体积分数分别为5%,6%,7%,8%,9%和10%。由于在磁性液体薄片上的升温非常小以及毫秒级的测量时间,自由对流所产生的影响可以忽略不计。用激光诱导光栅技术测的数据与已有文献中的实验数据比较吻合,从而说明该技术在磁性液体的热扩散测量上是可行的。     

Numerical Simulation of Ferrofluid Flow for Subsurface Environmental Engineering Applications

Ferrofluids are suspensions of magnetic particles of diameter approximately 10nm stabilized by surfactants in carrier liquids. The large magnetic susceptibility of ferrofluids allows the mobilization of ferrofluid through permeable rock and soil by the application of strong external magnetic fields. We have developed simulation capabilities for both miscible and immiscible conceptualizations of ferrofluid flow through porous media in response to magnetic forces arising from the magnetic field of a rectangular permanent magnet. The flow of ferrofluid is caused by the magnetization of the particles and their attraction toward a magnet, regardless of the orientation of the magnet. The steps involved in calculating the flow of ferrofluid are (1) calculation of the external magnetic field, (2) calculation of the gradient of the external magnetic field, (3) calculation of the magnetization of the ferrofluid, and (4) assembly of the magnetic body force term and addition of this term to the standard pressure gradient and gravity force terms. We compare numerical simulations to laboratory measurements of the magnetic field, fluid pressures, and the twodimensional flow of ferrofluid to demonstrate the applicability of the methods coded in the numerical simulators. We present an example of the use of the simulator for a fieldscale application of ferrofluids for barrier verification.     

Optical properties of one-dimensional soft photonic crystals with ferrofluids

We review the recent theoretical study on the optical properties of one-dimensional soft photonic crystals (1D SPCs) with ferrofluids. The proposed structure is composed of alternating ferrofluid layers and dielectric layers. For the ferrofluid, single domain ferromagnetic nanoparticles can align to a chain under the stimuli of an external magnetic field, thus changing the microstructure of the system. Meanwhile, nonlinear optical responses in ferrofluids are also briefly reviewed.