Open AccessA high‐precision model of first‐order reversal curve (FORC) functions for single‐domain ferromagnets with uniaxial anisotropy
Author(s) -
Newell Andrew J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.928
H-Index - 136
ISSN - 1525-2027
DOI - 10.1029/2004gc000877
Subject(s) - condensed matter physics , anisotropy , magnetization , ferromagnetism , hysteresis , single domain , physics , particle (ecology) , function (biology) , magnetic anisotropy , magnetic hysteresis , materials science , geometry , geology , optics , mathematics , magnetic field , quantum mechanics , oceanography , evolutionary biology , biology
Plots of the first‐order reversal curve (FORC) function are used to characterize ferromagnetic particles in rocks. The function is based on classical Preisach theory, which represents magnetic hysteresis by elementary loops with displacement H u and half width H c . Using analytical and numerical integration of single‐particle magnetization curves, a high‐precision FORC function is calculated for a sample with randomly oriented, noninteracting, elongated single‐domain (SD) particles. Some properties of the FORC function are independent of the distribution of particle orientations and shapes. There is a negative peak near the H u axis, and the FORC function is identically zero for H u > 0. The negative peak, previously attributed to particle interactions, is due to the increasing slope of a reversible magnetization curve near a jump. This peak is seen in experimental FORC functions of SD samples but not of samples with larger particles, probably because of Barkhausen jumps. The second feature is not seen in any experimental FORC function. A spread of the function to H u > 0 can be caused by particle interactions or nonuniform magnetization.