Observing Dynamical Systems Using Magneto-Controlled Diffraction

Abstract

Observing the light passing through a thin layer of ferrofluid, we can see the occurrence of interesting effects, both in the formation patterns within the ferrofluid layer and in the dispersion of light outside that layer. This leads us to ask what the explanations associated with these effects are. In this paper, we analyze and explain the occurrence of these luminous patterns using a Ferrolens, commercially known as a Ferrocell. We present details of our experimental apparatus, followed by a discussion of some properties of light polarization and its relation to the formation of magnetic contours produced by a Ferrolens. In addition, we present the observation of a magnetochiral effect in this system. Next, we propose an application of this experiment in dynamical systems. The dynamical system is the direct observation of diffracted lines in Ferrolens, a special case of a Hele-Shaw cell containing a transparent ferrofluid subjected to various light sources.

Keywords

• magneto-optics
• diffraction
• ferrofluid
• Ferrolens