Magnetooptical studies of aggregates of nanoparticles in colloidal solutions of magnetite

The birefringence in a colloidal solution of nanosized magnetite particles in kerosene exposed to constant, alternating, and pulsed magnetic fields is studied. Data on the birefringence kinetics in nonstationary magnetic fields is used to determine the hydrodynamic radius of particle aggregates in solutions. The permanent dipole moment of aggregates and the anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility are calculated based on the data of magnetooptical experiments. It is shown that the induced dipole moment plays a significant role in an orientation of aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles under the effect of a field.