Response of an isolated magnetic grain suspended in a liquid to a rotating field

We have studied the response of an isolated uniaxial magnetic grain suspended in a liquid to an applied fieldh rotating with frequencyω. In the presence of an applied static field (H?h), at low frequencies (i.e. for fast relaxation), the easy axis followsh, while at high frequencies the behavior is similar to that of a bulk sample. In zero static field, the response of a ferromagnetic grain is more complicated; there exists a critical frequencyω _e below which a steady state is reached, with the easy axis followingh. Forω>ω _e the mechanical behavior depends crucially on the initial conditions. Finally, a superparamagnetic grain has a (different) critical frequencyω _e, below which it reacts similarly to the ferromagnetic particle, while forω>ω _e it does not follow steadily the rotating field, but can only oscillate about its initial position.