Effect of surface anisotropy on the hysteretic properties of a magnetic particle

We study the influence of surface anisotropy on the zero-temperature hysteretic properties of a small single-domain magnetic particle, and give an estimation of the anisotropy constant for which deviations from the Stoner-Wohlfarth model are observed. We consider a spherical particle with simple cubic crystalline structure, a uniaxial anisotropy for core spins and radial anisotropy on the surface, and compute the hysteresis loop by solving the local Landau-Lifshitz equations for classical spin vectors. We find that when the surface anisotropy constant is at least of the order of the exchange coupling, large deviations are observed with respect to the Stoner-Wohlfarth model in the hysteresis loop and thereby the limit-of-metastability curve, due to the nonuniform cluster-wise reversal of the magnetization. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.