superparamagnetism
/ˌsuːpəparəˈmaɡnɪtɪz(ə)m/ /ˌsjuːpəparəˈmaɡnɪtɪz(ə)m/Physics
noun
A phenomenon in which particles under a certain critical size and having a single magnetic domain can exhibit behaviour similar to paramagnetism despite being below the Curie temperature (for a ferromagnetic substance) or the Néel temperature (for an antiferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic substance).
- The phenomenon arises when the energy required to change the direction of a particle's magnetic moment is comparable to its thermal energy..
Origin
1950s. From super- + paramagnetism, after superparamagnetic.
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