Direct observation of the thermal demagnetization of magnetic vortex structures in non-ideal magnetite recorders
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Accepted version
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The thermal demagnetization of pseudo-single-domain (PSD) magnetite (Fe3O4) particles, which govern the magnetic signal in many igneous rocks, is examined using off-axis electron holography. Visualization of a vortex structure held by an individual Fe3O4 particle (~ 250 nm in diameter) during in situ heating is achieved through the construction and examination of magnetic-induction maps. Step-wise demagnetization of the remanence-induced Fe3O4 particle upon heating to above the Curie temperature, performed in a similar fashion to bulk thermal demagnetization measurements, revealed its vortex state remains stable under heating close to its unblocking temperature, and is recovered upon cooling with the same or reversed vorticity. Hence, the PSD Fe3O4 particle exhibits thermomagnetic behavior comparable to a single-domain carrier, and thus vortex-states are considered reliable magnetic recorders for paleomagnetic investigations.
Date Issued
2016-08-19
Date Acceptance
2016-07-30
Citation
Geophysical Research Letters, 2016, 43 (16), pp.8426-8434
ISSN
1944-8007
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Start Page
8426
End Page
8434
Journal / Book Title
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume
43
Issue
16
Copyright Statement
©2016. The Authors.This is an open access article under theterms of the Creative CommonsAttribution License, which permits use,distribution and reproduction in anymedium, provided the original work isproperly cited.
License URL
Sponsor
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Grant Number
NE/J020508/1
Subjects
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
MD Multidisciplinary
Publication Status
Published