Molecular dynamics simulations of the dipolar-induced formation of magnetic nanochains and nanorings

Department of Physics, University of Duisburg-Essen - 47048 Duisburg, Germany

Received: 18 August 2006
Accepted: 8 January 2007

Abstract

Iron, cobalt and nickel nanoparticles, grown in the gas phase, are known to arrange in chains and bracelet-like rings due to the long-range dipolar interaction between the ferromagnetic (or super-paramagnetic) particles. We investigate the dynamics and thermodynamics of such magnetic dipolar nanoparticles for low densities using molecular dynamics simulations and analyze the influence of temperature and external magnetic fields on two- and three-dimensional systems. The obtained phase diagrams can be understood by using simple energetic arguments.