New method for the reconstruction of the distribution of fine particle magnetic moments in a ferrofluid

We present a new method to reconstruct the distribution of magnetic moments rho(mu) of ferrofluid particles from the magnetization curve measured on a ferrofluid in the liquid state. The method employs the solution of the int egral equation describing the magnetization of the fine particle system in an external field and requires net a priori assumptions concerning the shap e of rho(mu). Reconstruction results for both the computer simulated magnet ization curves and the experimental data obtained on Co-ferrofluids are pre sented. In the latter case comparison of the reconstructed distribution wit h rho(mu) calculated from the particle size distribution obtained via elect ron microscopy shows good quantiative agreement.