Nonlinear stationary ac response of the magnetization of uniaxial superparamagnetic nanoparticles.

The nonlinear stationary ac response of the magnetization of assemblies consisting of (i) noninteracting uniaxial superparamagnetic nanoparticles with aligned easy axes and (ii) randomly oriented nanoparticles subjected to superimposed ac and dc bias magnetic fields of arbitrary strength and orientation is calculated by averaging Gilbert's equation augmented by a random field. The magnetization dynamics of uniaxial particles driven by a strong ac field applied at an angle to the easy axis of the particle (so that the axial symmetry is broken) alters drastically leading to new nonlinear effects due to coupling of the thermally activated magnetization reversal mode with the precessional modes via the driving ac field. In particular, the high frequency response reveals significant nonlinear effects in the precessional motion with significant consequences for the dynamic hysteresis and ultra-fast switching of the magnetization following an ultrafast change in the applied field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]