Dynamics of magnetic nanoparticle in a viscous liquid: Application to magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia

It is shown that the magnetic dynamics of an assembly of nanoparticles dispersed in a viscous liquid differs significantly from the behavior of the same assembly of nanoparticles immobilized in a solid matrix. For an assembly of magnetic nanoparticles in a liquid two characteristic mode for stationary magnetization oscillations are found that can be called the viscous and magnetic modes, respectively. In the viscous mode, which occurs for small amplitude of the alternating magnetic field H-0 as compared to the particle anisotropy field H-k, the particle rotates in the liquid as a whole. In a stationary motion the unit magnetization vector and the director, describing the spatial orientation of the particle, move in unison, but the phase of oscillations of these vectors is shifted relative to that of the alternating magnetic field. Therefore, for the viscous mode the energy absorption is mainly due to viscous losses associated with the particle rotation in the liquid. In the opposite regime, H-0 >= H-k, the director oscillates only slightly near the external magnetic field direction, whereas the unit magnetization vector sharply jumps between magnetic potential wells. Thus, a complete orientation of the assembly of nanoparticles in the liquid occurs in the alternating magnetic field of sufficient amplitude. As a result, large specific absorption rates, of the order of 1 kW/g, can be obtained for an assembly of magnetic nanoparticles in viscous liquid in the transient, H-0 similar to 0.5H(k), and magnetic modes at moderate frequency and alternating magnetic field amplitude. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4737126]