NONMECHANICAL TORQUE-DRIVEN FLOW OF A FERROMAGNETIC FLUID BY AN ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD

Abstract

Flows of ferromagnetic fluids (colloidal suspensions) are obtained by coupling to the suspended single-domain particles with a rotating magnetic field. It is shown that very high rotation rates are possible by this technique. Nonmechanical torque-driven flows represent a hitherto unexplored area in the physics of fluids that has interesting potential technological application. A ferromagnetic pump based upon the present principle could be of great value in fluidic systems and open up new applications in space, ocean, biological and other environments.