Domain structures in thin layers of a ferrocolloid

(Received 16 March 1993, revised 15 July 1993, accepted 5 August 1993)

Abstract
We consider the problem of formation of structures composed of identical domains in a ferrocolloid that fills a space between two closely situated parallel planes under action of a normal external magnetic field. Those structures begin to arise under conditions favouring the phase separation of the ferrocolloid. An inhomogeneous system including two equivalent colloidal phases would ultimately evolve due to Ostwald ripening, but for a scaling effect of the planes that stops the evolution at a certain level and makes for the resulting domain structure being stable. A method to find out main characteristics of the domains, such as their size and concentration, is developed for both chaotic and regular (ordered) structures.