Optical properties of aggregated magnetic fluid: birefringence and light scattering

Abstract

The optical properties of colloidal solutions of nanosized magnetite particles in kerosene were studied by optical methods (birefringence and light scattering). The data on the birefringence kinetics in nonstationary magnetic fields is used to determine the size distribution of magnetite particles and aggregates. It is shown that the particle size distribution essentially depends on the type of magnetic moments of the particles and aggregates. Static and dynamic light scattering experiments confirm the conclusion about the existence of a significant fraction of nanoparticles in the form of aggregates with sizes of several tens of nanometers