Bulk vs Nano

Paramagnetism refers to materials like aluminum or platinum which become magnetized
in a magnetic field but their magnetism disappears when the field is removed.
Ferromagnetism refers to materials (such as iron and nickel) that can retain their
magnetic properties when the magnetic field is removed.
now wrt domains, when a substance is ferromagnetic, the moment its put in a
magnetic field, all domains allign along the magnetic field and stay even after the
field disappears. i.e. domain is reshaped and realigned.
but para and dia magnetic materials do not have magnetic domains. they only have
dipoles with align in response to an external field but do not spontaneously align.
When the size of a ferromagnetic material is reduced below a critical value, it

becomes a single domain. The reaction of ferromagnetic materials on an applied
field is well described by a hysteresis loop, which is characterized by two main
parameters: remanence and coercivity. The latter is related to the 'thickness' of
the curve. Dealing with fine particles, the coercivity is the single property of
most interest, and it is strongly size-dependent. It has been found that as the
particle size is reduced, the coercivity increases to a maximum and then decreases
toward zero.
Coercivity, in the context of a material interacting with an external magnetic

field, refers to the measure of a material's resistance to becoming magnetized or
demagnetized. It is the intensity of the applied magnetic field required to reduce
the magnetization of a material to zero after the material has been previously
saturated. In simpler terms, coercivity represents the ability of a material to
retain its magnetization in the presence of an external magnetic field.
Now, let's compare the coercivity for different magnetic phases, such as
superparamagnetic, single domain, and multi-domain:
Superparamagnetic Phase:
Coercivity is typically very low for superparamagnetic materials.

Superparamagnetic materials consist of small magnetic particles, and their magnetic
moments can easily be aligned with an external magnetic field.
However, these materials lose their magnetic properties when the external magnetic
field is removed.
Single Domain Phase:
Coercivity is moderate for single domain materials.

Single domain materials have a uniform magnetic moment throughout the entire
material, making them relatively stable against external magnetic fields.
Coercivity depends on factors such as the size and shape of the single domain.
Multi-Domain Phase:
Coercivity is relatively high for multi-domain materials.

Multi-domain materials are composed of multiple magnetic domains with different
orientations.
Coercivity is influenced by the domain walls, and overcoming the magnetic
interactions between these domains requires a higher external magnetic field.
Bulk vs. Nano Phases:
In general, nano-sized magnetic particles may exhibit different coercivity compared

to bulk materials.
Nano-sized particles often show enhanced coercivity due to their size and shape
effects. This is often referred to as the "size effect" or "shape anisotropy."
As the size of magnetic particles decreases, their thermal stability may be
reduced, leading to changes in coercivity, especially in superparamagnetic
materials.
In summary, coercivity is a crucial parameter in understanding how materials
respond to external magnetic fields. The specific coercivity values depend on the
size, shape, and magnetic interactions within the material, making it an important
consideration in the study and application of magnetic materials in various fields,
such as information storage and magnetic devices.
Magnetoresistance:
Definition:
Magnetoresistance (MR) is a property of a material that describes how its

electrical resistance changes in response to an applied magnetic field.
It is a general term that can be applied to bulk materials.
Mechanism:
In bulk materials, magnetoresistance is often attributed to changes in the mobility

of charge carriers (electrons or holes) as they experience the Lorentz force in the
presence of a magnetic field.
Classical magnetoresistance is typically on the order of a few percentage points.
Applications:
Magnetoresistance is commonly observed in various materials and is used in

applications such as magnetic field sensors and magnetic read heads in hard disk
drives.
Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR):
Definition:
Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) is a specific type of magnetoresistance that refers

to an unusually large change in electrical resistance in the presence of a magnetic
field.
GMR is typically associated with layered structures of magnetic and non-magnetic
materials.
Mechanism:
GMR arises from the spin-dependent scattering of electrons between adjacent

magnetic layers separated by non-magnetic spacers.
When the magnetization directions of adjacent layers are parallel, the resistance
is low (spin-up and spin-down electrons experience less scattering). When they are
antiparallel, the resistance is high.
Scale:
GMR effects are often observed in nanostructured materials, especially thin films
or multilayers with nanoscale layer thickness.
The magnitude of GMR can be several hundred percent, much larger than the classical
magnetoresistance.
Applications:
GMR has revolutionized the field of magnetic sensors and data storage technology.
It is a key technology in hard disk drives, where the read heads exploit the GMR
effect for more sensitive detection of magnetic signals.
Comparison:
Scale and Magnitude:
Magnetoresistance is a general term and can be observed in various materials, with

typical effects on the order of a few percentage points.
GMR is a specific phenomenon associated with nanostructured materials, and its
magnitude is much larger, often exceeding 100%.
Mechanism:
Classical magnetoresistance is often related to the Lorentz force and changes in

carrier mobility.
GMR is a quantum mechanical effect involving spin-dependent scattering in
multilayer structures.
Applications:
While both magnetoresistance and GMR find applications in sensing and data storage,
GMR has had a more significant impact in high-density data storage technologies,
particularly in hard disk drives.
In summary, while magnetoresistance is a general term describing the change in
electrical resistance in a magnetic field, GMR is a specific and enhanced
manifestation of this effect observed in nanostructured materials, with profound
applications in information storage and sensing technologies.

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Paramagnetism refers to materials like aluminum or platinum which become magnetized

When the size of a ferromagnetic material is reduced below a critical value, it

Coercivity, in the context of a material interacting with an external magnetic

Coercivity is typically very low for superparamagnetic materials.

Coercivity is moderate for single domain materials.

Coercivity is relatively high for multi-domain materials.

In general, nano-sized magnetic particles may exhibit different coercivity compared

Magnetoresistance (MR) is a property of a material that describes how its

In bulk materials, magnetoresistance is often attributed to changes in the mobility

Magnetoresistance is commonly observed in various materials and is used in

Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) is a specific type of magnetoresistance that refers

GMR arises from the spin-dependent scattering of electrons between adjacent

Scale and Magnitude:

Magnetoresistance is a general term and can be observed in various materials, with

Classical magnetoresistance is often related to the Lorentz force and changes in

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