Equilibrium magnetization curve of a rigid finite-size spherical cluster of single-domain particles is investigated both numerically and analytically. The spatial distribution of particles within the cluster is random. Dipole-dipole interactions between particles are taken into account. The particles are monodisperse. It is shown, using the stochastic Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation that the magnetization of such clusters is generally lower than predicted by the classical Langevin model. In a broad range of dipolar coupling parameters and particle volume fractions, the cluster magnetization in the weak field limit can be successfully described by the modified mean-field theory, which was originally proposed for the description of concentrated ferrofluids. In moderate and strong fields, the theory overestimates the cluster magnetization. However, predictions of the theory can be improved by adjusting the corresponding mean-field parameter. If magnetic anisotropy of particles is additionally taken into account and if the distribution of the particles' easy axes is random and uniform, then the cluster equilibrium response is even weaker. The decrease of the magnetization with increasing anisotropy constant is more pronounced at large applied fields. The phenomenological generalization of the modified mean-field theory, that correctly describes this effect for small coupling parameters, is proposed.

• Received 19 April 2018
• Revised 12 September 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.98.144418