Magnetic properties of novel dynamic self-assembled structures generated on the liquid/air interface

We report on experimental and theoretical studies of magnetic properties of recently discovered dynamic multi-segment self-organized structures (“magnetic snakes”). Magnetic order and response of such snakes are determined by a novel unconventional mechanism provided by a self-induced surface wave. It gives rise to a nontrivial magnetic order: the segments of the snake exhibit long-range antiferromagnetic order mediated by the surface waves, while each segment is composed of ferromagnetically aligned chains of microparticles. Magnetic properties of the snakes are probed by in-plane magnetic field. A phenomenological model is proposed to explain the experimental observations.