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Strong intrinsic mixing in vortex magnetic fields

James E. Martin, Lauren Shea-Rohwer, and Kyle J. Solis
Phys. Rev. E 80, 016312 – Published 22 July 2009
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Abstract

We report a method of magnetic mixing wherein a “vortex” magnetic field applied to a suspension of magnetic particles creates strong homogeneous mixing throughout the fluid volume. Experiments designed to elucidate the microscopic mechanism of mixing show that the torque is quadratic in the field, decreases with field frequency, and is optimized at a vortex field angle of 55°. Theory and simulations indicate that the field-induced formation of volatile particle chains is responsible for these phenomena. This technique has applications in microfluidic devices and is ideally suited to applications such as accelerating the binding of target biomolecules to biofunctionalized magnetic microbeads.

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  • Received 7 March 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.80.016312

©2009 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

James E. Martin, Lauren Shea-Rohwer, and Kyle J. Solis

  • Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-1415, USA

See Also

Mix Master Magnets

Don Monroe
Phys. Rev. Focus 24, 1 (2009)

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Issue

Vol. 80, Iss. 1 — July 2009

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