FERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS

DKR-JIITN-PH611-MAT-SCI-2010

Ferromagnetic Materials
Certain metallic materials posses permanent magnetic moment in the absence of an external field, and manifests very large and permanent magnetization which is termed as spontaneous magnetization. Example: Fe, Co, Ni and some rare earth metals such as Gd. Magnetic susceptibility as high as 106 are possible for ferromagnetic materials. Therefore, H<<M and

B = 0 H + 0 M
reduces to

(1)

B = 0 M

(2)

Spontaneous magnetization decreases as the temperature rises and is stable only below a certain temperature known as Curie temperature.
DKR-JIITN-PH611-MAT-SCI-2010

Atomic magnetic moments due to un-cancelled electron spin is responsible for Spontaneous magnetization. Orbital motion also contributes but its contribution is very small in comparison to the electron spin. Coupling interaction causes net spin magnetic moments of adjacent atoms to align with one another even in absence of external field. This mutual spin alignment exists over a relatively larger volume of the crystal called domain. The maximum possible magnetization is called saturation magnetization. It results when all magnetic dipoles in a solid piece are mutually aligned with the external field. There is also a corresponding saturation flux density Bs.

M s = N

(3)

DKR-JIITN-PH611-MAT-SCI-2010

Hypothesis of Weiss theory:

1. Weiss theory of spontaneous magnetization classical theory

1. A ferromagnetic specimen contains, in general, large number of small regions called domains (dimension ~ 10-2 cm and containing as many as 1015 to 1017 atoms) which are spontaneously magnetized. The magnitude of spontaneous magnetization of the specimen is determined by vector sum of dipole moment of individual domains. 2. Within each domain spontaneous magnetization is due to the existence of a molecular field which tends to produce a parallel alignment of the atomic dipoles despite effect of thermal energy. This internal field is equivalent to a magnetic field Hm, which is proportional to the magnetization M of within a domain i.e.

H m = M

(1.1)

Where is constant independent of temperature, called molecular field constant or Weiss constant.

Effective field experienced by each dipole would be then,

H e = H + M

(1.2)

Let us consider a ferromagnetic solid containing N number of atoms/ m3, then magnetization due to spins can be given as

M = N B tanh[

0 B H
kT

] = N B tanh[

0 B ( H + M )
kT

At sufficiently high temperature,

0 B ( H + M )
kT
Then

<< 1

tanh[

0 B ( H + M )
kT

]=

0 B ( H + M )
kT

Therefore,
2

N 0 B ( H + M ) M = kT
2 2 2

(1.3)

N 0 B H N 0 B M N 0 B N 0 B H M = + M (1 )= kT kT kT kT
2

M == H M == H

N 0 B 2 N 0 B ) kT (1 kT
2 2

N 0 B 2 N 0 B ) k (T k C = (T )
2

(1.4)

Where,

N 0 B C= k

N 0 B and = = C k
2

(1.5)

Paramagnetic 1/ Ferromagnetic

Now when H = 0, then

M = N B tanh[

0 B ( H + M )
kT

] = N B tanh[

0 B M
kT

M M M = = tanh[ 0 B ] N B M s kT
M M = = tanh N B M s
(1.5)

Where,

0 B M
kT

Now let us consider

N M = 0 B N B kT
2

0 B M
kT

It can be written as ,

M kT = N B N0 B 2

or,

2 2 M (T ) T T N 0 B N 0 B = = and = = C where, C = M s (0) C k k T > T = T <

1
M (T ) M s (0)

tanh
T

2. Weiss theory of spontaneous magnetization Quantum theory

M = NgJ B B J (a )
Where

B( J ) =

( 2 J + 1) 1 a 2J + 1 coth a coth 2J 2J 2J 2J

and

gJ 0 B H gJ 0 B ( H + M ) = a= kT kT

We know that,

M s ( 0 ) = NgJ B Therefore

M (T ) = M s ( 0 ) B J ( a )

Further,

M (T ) = BJ (a ) M s (0)

gJ 0 B ( H + M ) gJ 0 B M = a= kT kT

gJ 0 B M a= kT
M (T ) = kTa gJ 0 B

M (T ) kTa M (T ) kTa 1 = = M s (0) Ng 2 J 2 0 B 2 M s (0) gJ 0 B NgJ B

T > T = T <

1
B J (a)

M (T ) M s (0)

M (T ) M s (0)

0.5
M s (0)

0.5
T

Ms(0) is spontaneous magnetization at 0K.

Let us consider Brillouin function (BJ) again,

B J (a) =
For a<<1

2J + 1 (2 J + 1)a 1 a coth coth 2J 2J 2J 2J

1 1 a + a 3 2J 2J

2J + 1 1 1 (2 J + 1)a 1 B J (a) = + 2 J (2 J + 1)a 3 2 J 2 J 2J

(Since for x<<1 coth x =

B J (a) =

1 x + x 3

Neglecting higher terms.)

2J a a + 6J

2J + 1 2J (2 J + 1)a 1 + 2 J (2 J + 1)a 6J 2J

2 J + 1 12J 2 + [(2 J + 1)a]2 1 12 J 2 + a 2 B J (a) = 2 J 6 J (2 J + 1)a 2 J 6 Ja 12 J 2 + (4 J 2 + 1 + 4 J )a 2 12 J 2 + a 2 B J (a) = 2 12J 2 a 12 J a

12 J 2 + (4 J 2 + 1 + 4 J )a 2 12 J 2 + a 2 B J (a) = 2 2 12 J a 12J a 12 J 2 + 4 J 2 a 2 + a 2 + 4 Ja 2 12 J 2 a 2 B J (a) = 12J 2 a 4 J 2 a 2 + 4 Ja 2 B J (a) = 2 12J a 4 Ja 2 ( J + 1) B J ( a) = 2 12J a

a( J + 1) B J (a) = 3J

Therefore, from the equation of magnetization

M (T ) = M s ( 0 ) B J ( a )

M (T ) = M s ( 0 ) a

Thus, slope of the curve for a<<1,

J +1 3J M (T ) J +1 = M s (0) a 3J

(A)

We also know that,

M (T ) kTa = M s (0) Ng 2 J 2 0 B 2
Thus,

M (T ) kT = M s (0)a Ng 2 J 2 0 B 2

(B)

Comparing (A) and (B) at T = ,

J +1 = 2 3J Ng 2 J 2 0 B

Ng 2 J 0 B ( J + 1) = 3k
2

(C)

Equation gives relation between curie temperature, and molecular field constant, .

Now let us consider the case of T>, a<<1, then Magnetization can be written as,

M = NgJ B B J ( a ) = NgJ B
Since, a =

a ( J + 1) J ( J + 1) = Ng B a 3J 3J

gJ 0 B ( H + M ) kT

Therefore,

M = Ng B

J ( J + 1) gJ 0 B ( H + M ) kT 3J
2

M = Ng 2 0 B M (1 Ng 2 0 B
2

J ( J + 1) ( H + M ) 3kT

J ( J + 1) J ( J + 1) ) = Ng 2 0 B 2 H 3kT 3kT Ng 2 0 B
2

J ( J + 1) M 3kT == H 2 J ( J + 1) (1 Ng 2 0 B ) 3kT

J ( J + 1) M 3kT == H 2 J ( J + 1) (1 Ng 2 0 B ) 3kT Ng 2 0 B
2

M == H

Ng 2 0 B J ( J + 1) 2 J ( J + 1) ) k (T Ng 2 0 B 3k
2

C (T )
2

(C)

Where,

Ng 2 0 B J ( J + 1) C= k

(D)

and

= Ng 2 0 B 2

J ( J + 1) 3k

(E)

3. Exchange interaction in magnetic materials

Heisenberg in 1928 gave theoretical explanation for large Weiss field in ferromagnetic materials. According to his theory, parallel arrangements of spins in ferromagnetic materials arises due to exchange interaction in which two neighboring spins in the solid are coupled together with an energy given as

E exch = 2 Js1 s 2

(3.1)

Here J is known as exchange integral. Its value depends upon separation between atoms as well as overlap of electron charge cloud. When J > 0, lower energy is obtained for parallel configuration of spins, while for J < 0, spins are anti-parallel. If there are Z nearest neighbors to a central ith spin, the exchange energy for this spin is r r (3.2) E exch = 2 J ij S i .S j 2 ZJS 2
j =1

This energy must be equal to K as at , ferromagnetic order is destroyed. Thus,

2 ZJS 2 K K
2ZS 2
rab (Co ) = 3.64 r0 rab (Gd ) = 3.12 r0

J >0

J ij

rab ( Fe ) = 3.26 r0 rab ( Ni ) = 3.94 r0 rab ( Mn ) = 2.94 r0

Co
rab 2r0

Fe

Ni Gd

Mn

Thus criteria for ferromagnetism (due to Slater) becomes atoms must have unbalances and the exchange integral J must be positive. Alloys like Mn-As, Cu-Mn and Mn-Sb show ferromagnetism.

Cr

(rab is inter-atomic distance and r0 is atomic radius).

J <0