ferromagnetism

views updated May 08 2018

ferromagnetism In the strict sense, magnetism occurring in substances in which the electron spins are coupled by quantum-mechanical exchange forces so that, within a single volume element, all electron-spin vectors are in the same direction. Typical materials are pure iron, nickel, and iron-nickel alloys found in meteorites and lunar samples. See also FERRIMAGNETISM; andANTIFERROMAGNETISM.