Magnetic Properties of a Rare-Earth Antiferromagnetic Nanoparticle Investigated with a Quantum Simulation Model

A Usov-type quantum model based on a mean-field approximation is utilized to simulate the magnetic structure of an assumed rare-earth nanoparticle consisting of an antiferromagnetic core and a paramagnetic outer shell. We study the magnetic properties in the presence and absence of an external magnetic field. Our simulation results show that the magnetic moments in the core region orientate antiferromagnetically in zero external magnetic field; an applied magnetic field rotates all of the magnetic moments in the paramagnetic shell completely to the field direction, and turns those in the core (which tries to maintain its original antiferromagnetic structure) towards the orientation in some degree; and the paramagnetic shell does not have a strong influence on the magnetic configuration of the core.