INFLUENCE OF PARTICLE-SIZE ON THE MAGNETIC VISCOSITY AND ACTIVATION VOLUME OF ALPHA-FE NANOWIRES IN ALUMITE FILMS

Particle size effects on the magnetic viscosity and activation volume were studied at room temperature for elongated alpha-Fe particles in a lumite (Fe nanowires in an anodized aluminum oxide film). Both magneti c viscosity and activation volume are strongly dependent on the partic le diameter, but independent of the particle length. The magnetization reversal mechanism of elongated alpha-Fe particles in alumite films i s discussed. The activation volume may represent the size of the magne tic switching unit propagating along the particle length during the no n-uniform magnetization reversal.