Magnetic Soret effect in ferrocolloids: experimental results and new problems

E. Blums

Institute of Physics, University of Latvia, Salaspils-1, LV-2169, Latvia

Abstract
The paper deals with analysis of recent results on thermodiffusion in ferrofluids under the effect of a magnetic field. The known experiments are carried out employing two different methods: particle separation in thermodiffusion columns and thermally induced grating of particles in thin fluid layers. Both methods qualitatively well confirm the theoretically predicted anisotropy of the magnetic Soret effect. Quantitative interpretation of results is burdened by a probable development of thermal and solutal magnetoconvective instabilities. Figs 3, Refs 16.