  We report a novel method of determining the average Neel relaxation time and
its temperature dependence by calculating derivatives of the measured time
dependence of temperature for a frozen ferrofluid exposed to an alternating
magnetic field. The ferrofluid, composed of dextran-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles
(diameter 13.7 nm +/- 4.7 nm), was synthesized via wet chemical precipitation
and characterized by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. An
alternating magnetic field of constant amplitude (H0 = 20 kA/m) driven at
frequencies of 171 kHz, 232 kHz and 343 kHz was used to determine the
temperature dependent magnetic energy absorption rate in the temperature range
from 160 K to 210 K. We found that the specific absorption rate of the
ferrofluid decreased monotonically with temperature over this range at the
given frequencies. From these measured data, we determined the temperature
dependence of the Neel relaxation time and estimate a room-temperature
magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant of 40 kJ/m3, in agreement with
previously published results.
