Negative remanent magnetization in a single domain particle with two uniaxial anisotropies

Abstract

The unusual behavior of negative remanent magnetization (NRM) that is observed in a simple homogeneous system consisting of two uniaxial anisotropies is explained quantitatively using an energy equation derived under the single domain assumption. The relative strength and alignment of the two uniaxial anisotropies and the direction of the applied magnetic field with respect to these anisotropies are identified as the three important factors for NRM. The window showing NRM is wider at larger angles between the two anisotropies and a maximum in NRM occurs near the boundary between NRM and ordinary positive remanent magnetization. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3633107]