Gravity and magnetic field dependent study of diffraction patterns in ferrofluids

TL;DR

This study investigates how gravity and magnetic fields influence diffraction patterns in ferrofluids, revealing changes in pattern shape and size under different magnetic field strengths and depths.

Contribution

It provides experimental insights into the effects of magnetic fields and gravity on diffraction patterns in ferrofluids, a novel observation in this context.

Findings

Diffraction patterns vary with depth and magnetic field strength.

Shape and size of patterns change under external magnetic fields.

Gravity and magnetic fields influence self-diffraction in ferrofluids.

Abstract

In this paper, we report the experimental observation of diffraction patterns in a ferrofluid comprising of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in hexane by a 10 mW He-Ne laser beam. An external dc magnetic field (0-2 kG) was applied perpendicular to the beam. The diffraction pattern showed variation at different depths of the sample in both zero and applied magnetic field. The patterns also exhibit a change in shape and size as the external field is varied. This effect is presumably arising due to thermally induced self-diffraction under the influence of gravity and external magnetic field.