Low Field Susceptibility Anisotropy in the Basal Plane of Hematite (α-Fe2O3) and its Dependence on the Remanent Moment

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Abstract
Measurements of room temperature susceptibility in the basal plane of natural single crystals of α‐Fe2O3 in which a high field isothermal remanence has been induced reveal a substantial anisotropy whose minimum is coincident with the direction of remanence. The susceptibility anisotropy appears to be related primarily to the low coercivity fraction of the remanent moment. Sizeable discontinuous changes in the susceptibility are sometimes present as the specimen is rotated. Recent domain wall studies have disclosed the presence in synthetic crystals of 180° walls exclusively. The present work suggests that the magnetization process within the basal plane of natural crystals of hematite is more complex.