The term “pseudo‐single domain” (PSD) has been used to describe the transitional state in rock magnetism that spans the particle size range between the single domain (SD) and multidomain (MD) states. The particle size range for the stable SD state in the most commonly occurring terrestrial magnetic mineral, magnetite, is so narrow (~20–75 nm) that it is widely considered that much of the paleomagnetic record of interest is carried by PSD rather than stable SD particles. The PSD concept has, thus, become the dominant explanation for the magnetization associated with a major fraction of particles that record paleomagnetic signals throughout geological time. In this paper, we argue that in contrast to the SD and MD states, the term PSD does not describe the relevant physical processes, which have been documented extensively using three‐dimensional micromagnetic modeling and by parallel research in material science and solid‐state physics. We also argue that features attributed to PSD behavior can be explained by nucleation of a single magnetic vortex immediately above the maximum stable SD transition size. With increasing particle size, multiple vortices, antivortices, and domain walls can nucleate, which produce variable cancellation of magnetic moments and a gradual transition into the MD state. Thus, while the term PSD describes a well‐known transitional state, it fails to describe adequately the physics of the relevant processes. We recommend that use of this term should be discontinued in favor of “vortex state,” which spans a range of behaviors associated with magnetic vortices.

Magnetic fields are proposed to have played a critical role in some of the most enigmatic processes of planetary formation by mediating the rapid accretion of disk material onto the central star and the formation of the first solids. However, there have been no experimental constraints on the intensity of these fields. Here we show that dusty olivine-bearing chondrules from the Semarkona meteorite were magnetized in a nebular field of 54 ± 21 microteslas. This intensity supports chondrule formation by nebular shocks or planetesimal collisions rather than by electric currents, the x-wind, or other mechanisms near the Sun. This implies that background magnetic fields in the terrestrial planet-forming region were likely 5 to 54 microteslas, which is sufficient to account for measured rates of mass and angular momentum transport in protoplanetary disks.

We show experimental switching data on microscale capacitors of lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT), which reveal time-resolved domain behavior during switching on a 100-ns scale. For small circular capacitors, an unswitched domain remains in the center while complete switching is observed in square capacitors. The observed effect is attributed to the formation of vortex domain during polarization switching in circular capacitors. This dynamical behavior is modeled using the Landau-Liftshitz-Gilbert equations and found to be in detailed agreement with experiment. This simulation implies rotational motion of polarization in the xy-plane, a Heisenberg-like result supported by the recent model of Naumov and Fu [Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 077603 (2007)], although not directly measurable by the present quasi-static measurements.

The magnetic microstructure of a natural, finely exsolved intergrowth of submicron magnetite blocks in an ulvöspinel matrix is characterized by using off-axis electron holography in the transmission electron microscope. Single-domain and vortex states in individual blocks, as well as magnetostatic interaction fields between them, are imaged at a spatial resolution approaching the nanometer scale. The images reveal an extremely complicated magnetic structure dominated by the shapes of the blocks and magnetostatic interactions. Magnetic superstates, in which clusters of magnetite blocks act collectively to form vortex and multidomain states that have zero net magnetization, are observed directly.