Chemomagnetic fields produced by solid combustion reactions

Abstract

We report here the observation of chemomagnetism, generation of a magnetic field by rapid high-temperature solid reactions producing various oxides. The low-level transient magnetic fields were measured with a high-Tc superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer during the synthesis of both nonferromagnetic and ferromagnetic (ferrite) compounds. The magnetic field was most likely produced by chemoionization processes generated by the moving high-temperature reaction zone. The permanent magnetic field formed by the synthesis of ferromagnetic materials depended on the difference between the combustion temperature and the Curie temperature of the product.