ferromagnetic

views updated

ferromagnetic In the wide sense, applied to substances in which electron spins are magnetically coupled by either exchange or super-exchange quantum-mechanical forces. Such materials can acquire a spontaneous magnetization which is much greater than either diamagnetism or paramagnetism. There are three types of ferromagnetism: ferromagnetism (in the strict sense); ferrimagnetism; and antiferromagnetism.

More From encyclopedia.com