MAGNETIZATION REVERSAL IN CHAIN-LIKE CLUSTERS OF INTERACTING PARTICLES

The minimum energy barrier hindering a reversal of the magnetic moment s in a cluster of interacting single domain magnetic particles is calc ulated for various chain-like geometries of the cluster. The energy ba rrier is calculated taking into account both the magnetic anisotropy i n the particles and magnetic interparticle dipolar interactions. The i nfluence of the particle interactions on the superparamagnetic relaxat ion in the clusters is discussed. The detailed geometry of the cluster is found to be important for the energy barrier - deviations from a l inear chain drastically reduce the energy barrier of a reversal of the magnetic moments in the cluster.