OI new ILlal IDLIC
3.13 FERROMAGNETIC DOMAINS
We can observe that ferromagnetic materials such as iron does not have
2
magnetisation unless they have been previously placed in an external magnetic field
But according to Weiss theory, The molecular magnets in the ferromagnetic material
are said to be aligned in such a way that, they exhibit a magnetisation even in the
absence of an external magnetic field. This is called Spontaneous magnetisation. i.e.
it should have some internal magnetisation due to quantum exchange energy.
Thus
Thus according to Weiss hypothesis, a single crystal of ferromagnetic
material is divided into large number of small regions called domains. These
domains have spontaneous magnetisation due to the parallel alignment of spin
magnetic moments in each domain. But the direction of spontaneous magnetisation
varies from domain to domain and are oriented in such a way that the net
to this reason
magnetisation of the specimen is zero as shown in Fig. 3.13. Due
the iron does not have any magnetisation in the absence of an external field.
H H
With field (weak) With field (strong)
Without field
Fig. 3.15
Fig. 3.13 Fig. 3.14
occurs
the magnetisation
Now, when the magnetic field is applied, then
in the specimen by two ways
movement of domain walls
) By the
domains walls.
rotation of
(ii) By
3,20 Physics for Electronics
Engineering
) By the movement of domain walls
The movement of domain walls takes place in weak
this weak field applied to the specimen the
magnetic fields.
magnetic moment increases Due to
the boundary of domains are displaced, so that the volume of increases andto
and hence
as shown in Fig. 3.14.
the domains
domains changes
i) By rotation of domains walls
The rotation of domain walls takes place in strong magnetic fields. When
the external field is high (strong) then the magnetisatlion changes by means of
rotation of the direction of magnetisation towards the direction of the applied
as shown in Fig. 3.15.
field
Experimental Evidence of Domain Colloidal
Structure (Bitter Powder Pattern) material
The direct experimental evidence of domain
structure is observed from the microphotographs
of domain boundanes oblained by the technique
of magnetic powder pattern which was
discovered by Bitter.
In this method. a drop of colloidal Domain wall
suspension of finely divided ferromagnetic powder
is allowed to spread over the surface of
Fig. 3. 16
femomagnetic material under investigation.
Now, when the colloidal particles are observed through microscope, t
because
Tound that the colloidal particles are collected along the domain boundaries *
domain boundaries
of the strong local magnetic field, which exists near the
shown in Fig. 3.16.
he
Thus the particles are attracted about well defined lines which represen will
wais
domain boundaries. Now when the external ficld is applied, the domain
start moving and that can be viewed through the microscope.
3.14 DOMAIN THEORY OF FERROMAGNETISM
The domain in ferromagnetic solid is understandable from the
i
is
s y s t e m
thermodynamical principle. (i.e..) in equilibrium the total energy of the
minimum. For this, first we consider the total energy of the domain
and
ture and
Sum o f
the
then how it is minimised. The total energy of the domain comprises
following energies. viz.
Maierials
Poperties of
Magnetie
Exchange energy
(i)
(ii) Anisotropy energy
(i) Domain wall energy
(iv) Magneto-strictive energy.
energy (or) magnetic field energy (or)
0 Exchange
magneto-static energy
The interaction ener8y which makes theadjacent dipoles to align themselves
is known as exchange energy (or) magnetic
field energy. The exchange energy
in a specimen of ferromagnetic and it is shown
has established a single domain
in Fig. 3.17.
NNNAN
SS
Fig. 3.18 Fig. 3.19
Fig. 3.17
at the ends of the domain, an
development of the free poles
Because of the will have a high
around it and the configuration
extermal field will be produced is the energy required in
In other words
value of magnetic field energy.
domaun and this work done is stored
into a single
assembling the atomic magneis
as potential energy.
reduced Dy aividing
the specimen into two
can be
The magnetic energy
3.18 and 3.19.
The
process of subdivision may be carried
domains as shown in Fig. tnan the increase in energv
of magnetic energy 1s ess
Ihis boundary is called a s domain wel
reduction
further, until the
and its boundary.
to form another domain
(or) Block wall.
3.22 Physics for Electron
Engineering
Note:
Closure domains: The triangular domains
complete the flux path and hence will not
Droduce anypoles Therefore there is no
magnetio field assocated with the
magnetisation. These domains are called
ciosure oomains. t is shown in Fig Fig. 3.20
Ci) Anisotropy energy
In ferromagnetic crystals there are two directions of magnetisation. viz
(i) Easy direction
(ii) Hard direction
In easy direction of magnetisation, weak field can be applied and in hard
direction of magnetisation, strong field should be applied. For producing the same
saturation magnetisation along both the hard and easy direction, strong fields are
required in the hard direction than the easy direction.
0.16U00L..
0.12
[111]
0.08F
0.04F
0 16,000 32,000 48,000
H-
Fig. 3. 21
For example in Iron easy direction is [100], medium direction is [110
we
the hard direction is [I11] and it is as shown in Fig. 3.21. From the figure hard
can see that very strong field is required to produce magnetic saturation m
direction [111] compared to the easy direction [100]
specimen along
Therefore the excess of energy required to magnetise the spec rtjon
tirection
hard direction over that required to magnetise the specimen along euy
is called Crystalline anisotropy energy
Material
Magnetic Properties of
(ii) Domain wal energy (or) Bloch wall energy
domains5,
Bloch wall is a transition layer which separates the adjacent
of domain wall is due to both
magnetised in different directions. The energy
exchange energy and anisotropic energy.
Based on the spin alignments, two types of Bloch walls may arise, namely
i) Thick wall (ii) Thin wall
at the boundary misaligned and if the direction
Thick Wall: When the spins are
shown in Fig. 3.22, it leads to a thick Bloch
of the spin changes gradually as
wall. Here the misalignment of spins are associated with exchange energy.
Domainwall
Transition region
Fig. 3.22
the boundaries changes abruptly, then the
Thin Wall: When the spins at
Since the anisotropic energy is directly
anisotropic energy becomes very less. this leads to a thin Bloch wall.
of the wall,
proportional to the thickness
two
Note: The Bloch wall should have thickness, balancing these
energies
Civ) Magnetostrictive energY
magnetised in diferent directions, they will either expand
domains are
When the
exists a deformation (1.e.,) change
in dimension the of
(or) Therefore there
shrink. is known as magnetostriction and
This phenomenon
material, when it is
magnetised.
known as magnetostriction enerev
this effect is
the energy produced in
along
different crystal directions and the c h a n o o
is different Er
The deformation upon the nature of the material F r
(increase or decrease) depenas inereaeo
in dimension in permalloy the length But
the length
decreases; and
example, in Ni decrease is due
to i n c
nceacal stress generated by domain
main
both the increase (or)
rotation.
