Dotriacontapoles -- almost self-assembled

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a new magnetic multipole, the dotriacontapole, characterized by a unique decay of magnetic field and explains its formation through dipole interactions and symmetry considerations.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a dotriacontapole, a previously unobserved multipole, and provides a method for constructing such magnetic configurations.

Findings

Magnetic field decays as inverse seventh power of distance.

Identifies the dotriacontapole as a new multipole type.

Provides a method to build dotriacontapoles.

Abstract

The magnetic field of a cuboidal cluster of eight magnetic spheres is measured. It decays with the inverse seventh power of the distance. This corresponds formally to a hitherto unheard-of multipole, namely a dotriacontapole. This strong decay is explained on the basis of dipole-dipole interaction and the symmetry of the ensuing ground state of the cuboidal cluster. A method to build such dotriacontapoles is provided.