Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 19, 2026

07:42
Optimizing Magnetic Force Microscopy Resolution and Sensitivity to Visualize Nanoscale Magnetic Domains
Published on: July 20, 2022
3.5K
Mesoscopic bar magnet based on ε-Fe2O3 hard ferrite
Shin-Ichi Ohkoshi1, Asuka Namai1, Takehiro Yamaoka2
1Department of Chemistry, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
Scientific Reports
|June 9, 2016
Summary
Researchers developed a novel mesoscopic ferrite magnet using epsilon iron oxide (ε-Fe2O3). This single-domain magnet exhibits a high coercive field and unique magneto-optical properties, enabling new applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Ferrite magnets are widely used in various technologies, including motors and magnetic fluids.
- Developing novel ferrite materials with enhanced magnetic properties is crucial for advanced applications.
- Epsilon iron oxide (ε-Fe2O3) is a promising candidate due to its unique magnetic characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a mesoscopic ferrite bar magnet based on rod-shaped ε-Fe2O3.
- To investigate the magnetic and spectroscopic properties of the ε-Fe2O3 bar magnet.
- To explore potential applications of this novel ferrite material.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a single-crystal, mesoscopic ε-Fe2O3 bar magnet.
- Spectroscopic studies across a wide frequency range.
- Characterization of magneto-optical transitions, phonon modes, and magnon behavior.
- Development of a magnetic-responsive non-linear optical sheet.
- Evaluation as a magnetic force microscopy probe.
Main Results:
- The ε-Fe2O3 bar magnet exhibits a large coercive field (>25 kOe) and exists as a single magnetic domain.
- Spectroscopic analysis reveals the critical role of the crystallographic a-axis in magneto-optical and phonon properties, as well as the magnon (Kittel mode).
- A magnetic-responsive non-linear optical sheet was successfully manufactured utilizing the multiferroic property of ε-Fe2O3.
- The mesoscopic ε-Fe2O3 bar magnet demonstrated potential as a magnetic force microscopy probe due to its high coercive field.
Conclusions:
- Mesoscopic ε-Fe2O3 bar magnets represent a significant advancement in ferrite magnet technology.
- The material's unique properties, including its high coercive field and multiferroicity, open avenues for novel applications.
- Further research into ε-Fe2O3 could lead to breakthroughs in optical devices, magnetic sensing, and advanced magnetic materials.
Related Concept Videos
Ferromagnetism
3.4K
Materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt consist of magnetic domains, within which the magnetic dipoles are arranged parallel to each other. The magnetic dipoles are rigidly aligned in the same direction within a domain by quantum mechanical coupling among the atoms. This coupling is so strong that even thermal agitation at room temperature cannot break it. The result is that each domain has a net dipole moment. However, some materials have weaker coupling, and are ferromagnetic at lower...
3.4K
Magnetic Fields
7.8K
A moving charge or a current creates a magnetic field in the surrounding space, in addition to its electric field. The magnetic field exerts a force on any other moving charge or current that is present in the field. Like an electric field, the magnetic field is also a vector field. At any position, the direction of the magnetic field is defined as the direction in which the north pole of a compass needle points.
A magnetic field is defined by the force that a charged particle experiences...
A magnetic field is defined by the force that a charged particle experiences...
7.8K
Magnetism
9.7K
Magnets are commonly found in everyday objects, such as toys, hangers, elevators, doorbells, and computer devices. Experimentation on these magnets shows that all magnets have two poles: one is labeled north (N) and the other south (S). Magnetic poles repel if they are alike and attract if unlike. Moreover, both poles of a magnet attract unmagnetized pieces of iron.
An individual magnetic pole cannot be isolated. No matter how small, every piece of a magnet contains a north pole and a south...
An individual magnetic pole cannot be isolated. No matter how small, every piece of a magnet contains a north pole and a south...
9.7K
Diamagnetism
3.3K
Materials consisting of paired electrons have zero net magnetic moments. However, when these materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Such materials are called diamagnets. Diamagnetism is the response of the diamagnets when placed in an external magnetic field.
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets....
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets....
3.3K
Paramagnetism
3.2K
Paramagnets are materials with unpaired electrons that possess a finite magnetic moment. In the absence of a magnetic field, these moments are randomly oriented, and thus the net moment is zero. Under an external field, a torque acting on the moments tends to align them along the field's direction. However, the random thermal motion of electrons produces a torque opposite to the external field and tries to disorient the moments. These two competing effects align only a few moments along the...
3.2K
Magnetic Moment of an Electron
3.2K
Electrons revolving around a nucleus are analogous to a circular current carrying loop. This current produces a magnetic dipole moment proportional to the electron's orbital angular momentum. Since the orbital angular momentum is quantized in terms of the reduced Planck's constant, the dipole moment is quantized in the Bohr Magneton. The value of the Bohr magneton is 9.27 x 10-24 Am2. Electrons also have an intrinsic spin angular momentum, and the associated spin magnetic moment is...
3.2K

