FORC Diagrams: A New Technique for Characterizing The Magnetic Properties of Natural Samples

University Of California-Davis, Davis CA

Investigators

Abstract

Verosub 9909468 Most of the methods currently used for studying the magnetic properties of natural and synthetic materials only provide information about the average size of the magnetic grains. The investigators are developing a new method that will actually provide information about the size distribution of the magnetic grains. This information is contained in contour plots (called FORC diagrams) that are generated from a set of partial hysteresis curves. Preliminary results indicate that it is possible to characterize a wide range of samples using FORC diagrams and to identify and discriminate between the different types of assemblages that have the same average grain size. The goals of this project are 1) to develop a simple and rapid means of producing a FORC diagram so that the method can be more widely used, and 2) to demonstrate how FORC diagrams can solve problems that can not be easily solved using other techniques.