New method for the reconstruction of the distribution of fine particle magnetic moments in a ferrofluid

We present a new method to reconstruct the distribution of magnetic moments /spl rho/(/spl mu/) of ferrofluid particles from the magnetization curve measured on a ferrofluid in the liquid state. The method employs the solution of the integral equation describing the magnetization of the fine particle system in an external field and requires no a priori assumptions concerning the shape of /spl rho/(/spl mu/). Reconstruction results for both the computer simulated magnetization curves and the experimental data obtained on Co-ferrofluids are presented. In the latter case comparison of the reconstructed distribution with /spl rho/(/spl mu/) calculated from the particle size distribution obtained via electron microscopy shows good quantitative agreement.