Electronic edition ISSN 1574-0579

A phenomenological approach to magneto-optical bistability in magnetic fields

V. Sofonea

Research Center for Hydrodynamics, Cavitation and Magnetic Fluids, Technical University of Timisoara, Bd. Viteazul 1, R - 1900 Timisoara, Romania.

Abstract
Static and dynamics operation modes of a hybrid magneto-optical device containing a magnetic fluid sample and a feedback loop have been analysed. Numerical experiments based on real experiment data about the magneto-optical birefringence effect in magnetic fluid thin layers revealed a bistable behaviour in the static conditions at reasonable values of experimental parameters. When pulsed magnetic field was applied to affect the device in dynamic conditions, besides the switching-on operation of the device, a critical slowing-down effect has been observed. A phenomenological Ginsburg-Landau model has been employed to explain all above processes occuring in the device. Figs 6, refs 16.