Theory and Simulation of highly concentrated model ferrofluids in external fields

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In this project we intend to investigate the structural and magnetic properties of dense, strongly interacting ferrofluids by means of computer simulations and analytical calculations by employing statistical mechanical theory. In particular we will vary the density, dipolar coupling, short range interparticle potential, polydispersity, and externally applied field and monitor their influence on structural and magnetic properties. Of special interest will be the mechanisms leading to the ferromagnetic phase, and other possible morphological phase transitions. In particular we will confine the system to 2D in order to try to reproduce recent experimental findings of strongly interacting ferrofluids yielding an interesting network structure, which is a strong function of density. As far as time permits we will also investigate the dynamical (ac) susceptibility and try to determine the possible forms of particles associations (chains, globules, fractal clusters), the characteristic spectrum of their relaxation times and their influence on the macroscopic magnetic properties of ferrofluids.